by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Igor Gabrovec, mayor of Nuova Aurisina; Maša Klavora, managing director of Walk of Peace
A new open-air museum dedicated to World War I has opened along the border between Italy and Slovenia, offering visitors a chance to explore one of the most significant battlegrounds of the Isonzo Front. The project, part of the Interreg Italy–Slovenia initiative “Walk of Peace +,” was developed by the municipalities of Duino Aurisina (Italy) and Komen (Slovenia).
Located on Mount Ermada/Grmada, a strategic limestone ridge that once served as a key Austro-Hungarian defense line, the cross-border route allows walkers, tourists, and history enthusiasts to retrace the footsteps of soldiers who fought in the rugged terrain of the Karst Plateau. The area, which the Italian army never managed to capture, remains one of the best-preserved witnesses to the Great War.
Access points to the open-air museum are available from both sides of the border—Medeazza and Ceroglie on the Italian side, and Brestovica on the Slovenian side. Along the network of CAI-marked trails, visitors can explore sites such as the “2a” trench line, the Dolina del Principe, Case Kohišče, the observation post of the Marine Battery III, the Karl and Zita caves, and the Grofova jama anti-aircraft battery. A 150-meter section of trench at Grofova jama has been restored, offering visitors the rare opportunity to walk through the narrow passageways that once defined the front.
The trail extends for about nine kilometers in Italy and nearly thirteen kilometers in Slovenia, with a total elevation gain of 250 meters, making it a moderate and scenic walk through the heart of the Karst landscape. Directional signs and informational panels have been installed throughout. On the Slovenian side, panels include QR codes with audio recordings in Slovene, Italian, English, and German, ensuring accessibility for visitors who are blind or visually impaired. On the Italian side, QR codes provide historical background and insights into daily life during the war.
In addition to the new infrastructure, the “Walk of Peace +” project has produced a bilingual promotional video, a photo series, and a trilingual brochure detailing the route in Italian, Slovene, and English.
The open-air museum is part of the broader “Walk of Peace” trail, a 500-kilometer cross-border route linking key sites of the Isonzo Front from the Adriatic coast to the Julian Alps. The initiative—coordinated by PromoTurismoFVG with partners including the Walk of Peace Foundation in Kobarid, the Posoški Development Center, and the municipalities of Duino Aurisina and Komen—was named the best Interreg project in Europe in 2020.
By connecting historical sites and communities on both sides of the border, the Mount Ermada/Grmada open-air museum serves as a new symbol of cross-border cooperation. It joins other open-air memorials such as the Kolovrat Ridge and the Sabotino Peace Park, located between Gorizia and Nova Gorica.
Future plans include developing resources for cyclists, further expanding the trail’s appeal to a wider range of visitors. A new “Walk of Peace” app, soon to be available on Apple and Google Play stores, will also offer maps, information, and multimedia content for those looking to explore the history and landscape of the Isonzo Front in greater depth.
