Redipuglia World War I Memorial

Redipuglia, Italy

Redipuglia is the largest Italian Military Sacrarium. It rises up on the western front of the Monte Sei Busi, which, in the First World War was bitterly fought after because, although it was not very high, from its summit it allowed an ample range of access from the West to the first steps of the Karstic table area.

The monumental staircase on which the remains of one hundred thousand fallen soldiers are lined up and which has at its base the monolith of the Duke of Aosta, who was the commanding officer of the third Brigade, and gives an image of a military grouping in the field of a Great Unity with its Commanding Officer at the front. The mortal remains of 100,187 fallen soldiers lie here, 39,857 of them identified and 60,330 unknown.

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Details

Founded: 1938
Category: Cemeteries, mausoleums and burial places in Italy

More Information

www.turismofvg.it

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Anthonny Salas (2 months ago)
A lot of blood was shed by that hero, who gave their life for a free homeland, by that anonymous hero, whose name was never known, who fought day and night, whose only reward was the freedom of their country, who knew that a medal did not make them a hero, but their dignity as a soldier and representative of their country, no matter the cost, even their own life. Thanks to the person who kindly took the time to tell us the story of those great heroes who could speak English, but if they could speak Spanish, thank you because you are another hero who represents them.
Edward Alexander (3 years ago)
The scale of this monument is highly impressive and, without using a drone, I don't think photos really do it justice. So many names listed is moving. Interesting to see that Mussolini's role in creating the monument has not been removed from history in the plaque at the top of the monument. Perhaps there could be a little more information for visitors to learn about the reasons for this monument's existence.
Tarik Kovac (5 years ago)
You can smell the history of the Grand War! Peace be upon all victims and may they rest in piece!
Mithu Sen (6 years ago)
Stop by and honour the boys who built the world for us. One of the saddest corners in Italy. It is one of the largest military memorial cemetery in honour of the soldiers who died in Isonzo front during the first world war. While you visit the place, I invite you to kindly imagine the horror of a war, the pain and suffering of the boys and the suffering of the family back in their homes. Do we need another war ? ... Anywhere??? Near the cemetery and on the other side of the hill, one may observe trenches and the guns and shells used during the war. Ample parking. Highly recommended. Please bring young kids and show them the horror.
Erlander (6 years ago)
The Redipuglia war memorial is dedicated to the italian soldiers who fought and died on the Isonzo front during WW1. It is the largest war memorial in Italy and one of the largest in the world. The entire place gives you a good perspective on how bloody that war was and how too many lives were lost in that conflict. As you stand beneath the memorial or on top of it, the feelings are really overwhelming and even if you dont like anything about history in general or WW1 in particular, the mere size of this stone tomb makes you think on how we humans can be so senseless, destructive and cruel. This memorial is the last resting place of 100.187 soldiers (!) that were killed in just 2 years of bloody fights, between 1915 and 1917 and this only on the Isonzo front. The construction works started in 1935 and the site was officially inaugurated on the 18th September 1938 in the presence of Mussolini and more than 50.000 italian veterans. The shrine was built on a small hill, called „Sei Busi“ that was also a place of many battles during those terrible days. It was built in a form of a staircase with 22 stone steps and that is why the memorial is called „Scalinata dei Centomila“ or „Staircase of the one hundred thousand“. These stone steps host the remains of 39,857 identified soldiers and on the top of the memorial, beside the chapel, are 2 more crypts with the remains of 60,330 unknown soldiers. At the base of the shrine and in front of the one hundred thousand graves lie 7 individual sepulchres. In the main one, which is made from a single piece of red marble weighing 49 tons, the commanding officer of the 3rd Italian army, prince Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Aosta, is buried. He died after the war, in 1931, but on his expressed wish, he was laid to rest here with his former soldiers. The other sepulchres host the remains of 6 Italian generals that were killed in action on the Isonzo front. On the path that leads to the base of the memorial are 38 plaques with the names of all the locations of major battles in the area. One interesting thing that I would like to highlight is the fact that among the graves of the first stone step there is the tomb of the only female victim buried here, the nurse Margherita Kaiser Parodi Orlando. I certainly advise everyone to visit this place at least once. There is a big free parking place on the opposite side of the road. From there a 5-minute walk will take you to the site. During this walk you can also visit a museum of WW1 in the nearby building and take a stroll on a small woody hill that lies opposite to the monument. It is called St. Elias Hill and it was the site of the main war cemetery before 1938. Nowadays this is a memorial park where some artillery pieces from WW1 are on display. If you dont want or you cant walk to the top of the main monument, that is not a problem. You can get there also by car. The road that leads at the top, branches off from the main road only 400 m away from the monument in the direction of Trieste.
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