Pilgrimage to the Alpine Soldiers' Chapel - Monte Cauriol

A pilgrimage of memory in the Lagorai mountains

The Pilgrimage to the Alpine Soldiers' Chapel on Monte Cauriol is one of the most heartfelt traditions in the Lagorai mountain range. It takes place in the municipality of Canal San Bovo, in the Vanoi Valley, province of Trento (Trentino-Alto Adige), and is organized by the Caoria Alpine Group, a branch of the National Alpine Association (ANA). Every year, Alpine soldiers, their families, and hikers climb to the 2,494-meter summit of Monte Cauriol to pay tribute to the soldiers who fell during the fierce battles of the First World War.

History: Monte Cauriol and its chapel

Monte Cauriol was the scene of some of the harshest fighting on the Trentino front. Between August 26 and 27, 1916, the 'Feltre', 'Val Cismon', 'Valbrenta', and 'Monrosa' Alpine battalions captured the summit after a bloody assault. In 1917, under the leadership of Captain Gabriele Sante Nasci, the Alpine soldiers built a small chapel in the Campigol de Féro area as a votive offering following the terrible winter of 1916-1917, when snow fell ninety-two times, burying comrades under avalanches. The first Mass was celebrated on September 15, 1917. Today, only ruins remain of the chapel, yet it is among these very stones that the memory of the fallen is renewed every summer.

The day of the pilgrimage

The program offers two options, designed to combine remembrance with the mountain experience:

• Summit Ceremony (for experienced hikers): early morning meeting at Rifugio Refavaie and shuttle transfer to Campigol de Féro, followed by the ascent to the summit along the historic Via degli Alpini, with a ceremony honoring the fallen.
• Chapel Ceremony: for those not attempting the climb, Holy Mass is celebrated among the remains of the Campigol de Féro chapel, accompanied by the sounding of the 'Silenzio' and a rifle salute.

At the end of the morning, everyone gathers in the valley for an Alpine lunch under the ANA tent in Caoria, a convivial moment that strengthens the community spirit typical of the Alpine soldiers.

Why participate

More than just a hike, the pilgrimage is an opportunity to combine the historical memory of the Great War with the discovery of one of the wildest and most fascinating corners of the Lagorai range. The walk along the Via degli Alpini, the panoramic views over the Vanoi peaks, and the solemnity of the ceremony make this an unmissable event for those who love the mountains and their history. The event is open to everyone, but the summit climb requires fitness, hiking experience, and proper equipment.