Alpini Pilgrimage to the Adamello

A pilgrimage of memory among the peaks of Trentino

The Alpini Pilgrimage to the Adamello is the annual event through which the Val di Peio Alpini Group honors the memory of the fallen of the First World War, fought on the Adamello glaciers in what has been defined as the highest war in Europe. The event takes place in the municipality of Peio, in the Province of Trento, in the heart of Trentino-Alto Adige, at the foot of Mount Vioz (3,644 m) and within the Stelvio National Park.

From Pejo 3000 to Cogolo

The most poignant moment is the high-altitude ceremony held near the Pejo 3000 cable car station, which opened in 2011 and carries visitors up to an altitude of 3,000 meters, offering views of the highest peaks of the Eastern Alps, from the Adamello to the Marmolada. Here, an open-air Holy Mass is celebrated in suffrage of those who sacrificed their lives in the mountains. The celebrations then move to the valley floor, in Cogolo di Peio, the main village of the municipality, where laurel wreaths are laid, followed by the parade of the 'black feathers' and official speeches.

Active and retired Alpini

The pilgrimage brings together active and retired Alpini, groups and sections of the National Alpini Association, banners from the valley's municipalities, and local citizens. It is an appointment where Alpine tradition intertwines with the identity of mountain communities: the memory of the fallen becomes an opportunity for meeting, reflection, and friendship between different generations.

A deeply rooted tradition in Val di Peio

The devotion of the Alpini to the Adamello dates back to 1963, when the great solemn pilgrimage organized by the ANA sections of Trento and Vallecamonica began. The Val di Peio, with the Ortles-Cevedale massif and its peaks over 3,500 meters, has always been one of the symbolic places of this memory: it was the scene of fierce high-altitude fighting and still preserves cemeteries and evidence of the conflict today. The Val di Peio Alpini Group keeps this legacy alive with its local commemoration.

What to expect

• Solemn ceremony and Holy Mass at high altitude at Pejo 3000
• Laying of laurel wreaths in memory of the fallen
• Parade of the 'black feathers' in the center of Cogolo di Peio
• Speeches by civil and military authorities
• Convivial moments with specialties of Trentino cuisine

A free event open to all, combining spirituality, history, and exceptional Alpine landscapes in the municipality of Peio, Trentino.