La Gran Vera Exhibition (1914-1918)

La Gran Vera: The Great War told in Moena

The Ladin title La Gran Vera — meaning "The Great War" in the local Val di Fassa dialect — captures the essence of this exhibition hosted in Moena, in the province of Trento, in the heart of the Trentino-Alto Adige region. Set up at the Navalge Cultural Centre, in Piaz de Navalge, the exhibition spans over 500 square metres and offers an immersive journey into the 1914-1918 conflict, from the eastern front of Galicia to the Dolomite mountains.

Four sections to traverse the conflict

The exhibition route is divided into four major thematic sections, each dedicated to a different moment and facet of the war:

• Galicia 1914: The early stages of the conflict on the eastern front, brought to life through the paintings of Austrian war artists, the Kriegsmaler.
• The Trench: Faithfully reconstructed walkways and positions, with interactive displays that reproduce the daily life of soldiers.
• Dolomites 1915: The high-altitude war in the local mountains, featuring around twenty original Austro-Italian uniforms.
• War to War: A concluding section dedicated to peace and reflection on memory.

Memorabilia, dioramas, and living memory

The exhibition stems from the rich collection of Michele Simonetti Federspiel and Mauro Caimi, honorary curators of the Ladin Museum of Fassa, enriched by artifacts from the museum itself and private collections. Visitors encounter highly scenic dioramas, thematic display cases, educational panels, vintage photographs, and large-scale prints, alongside reconstructed trenches and barracks. Some items belonging to soldiers — helmets, mess tins, grenades — can be touched, while large screens project images of life in the trenches.

A community project

La Gran Vera is promoted by the Ladin Cultural Institute, the Sul fronte dei ricordi association, and the Municipality of Moena, with the support of the Trentino-Alto Adige Region. The exhibition is part of the broader memory trail of the Great War in Val di Fassa and Trentino, also preserved by the Ladin Museum of Fassa. Every year, the exhibition opens its doors between spring and autumn, becoming a staple for residents and tourists vacationing in the Dolomites.