Sentiero Attrezzato Franco Galli

Overview

The Sentiero Attrezzato Galli is a historic route that culminates on the summit of Corno Battisti, in the Trentino sector of the Pasubio Massif. The trail winds through the iconic sites of the Great War, where the irredentists Cesare Battisti and Fabio Filzi were captured. More than a classic via ferrata, this is a hiking route with a strong historical character, featuring short equipped sections that allow you to explore the intricate network of trenches, ledges, and tunnels carved by soldiers.

Approach

The start is at the hamlet of Tezze, above Valmorbia in Trentino. From Rovereto, follow state road 46 toward the Pasubio valleys; at Valmorbia, turn left uphill, then immediately take the first small road on the right. This narrow road, with tight curves, ends after about 600 meters in an area with very limited parking. It is recommended to carefully look for a pull-off along the roadside to avoid blocking traffic. A valid alternative is to park further down in the village and walk the final paved stretch, adding about 200 meters of elevation gain and 15-20 minutes of walking.

Via Ferrata

From Tezze (750 m), it is best to tackle the loop counterclockwise, so you ascend through the tunnels. Take trail 122A on the right, bypassing trail 123 on the left, which will be used for the return. The start is physically demanding: the trail climbs with a steady, steep gradient through dense forest-a long section with no technical difficulty but requiring a good hiking pace. After about 2 hours, you reach Sella di Trappola (1435 m). Here, keep left toward Corno Battisti, officially entering the Sentiero Attrezzato Valli.

The route now becomes more interesting, emerging from the forest and unfolding across open terrain. You pass a first military position and reach the start of the equipped section, marked by a red sign. You cross a short rocky gully and, after another position, enter a tunnel. Following the white-red markers, you arrive at a junction for the panoramic viewpoint of Cappello di Pulcinella. The trail toward the summit then alternates between sections of path and tunnels carved into the living rock of Pasubio, typically limestone and dolomite. You encounter a natural staircase, climb a long stairway inside another tunnel, and see commemorative marble plaques. You traverse an exposed equipped ledge, protected by a steel cable, offering a first dizzying view of the valley. After another rocky stretch, you enter the main tunnel-a long artificial passage that you walk through entirely, ignoring the side branches. Emerging into the open, follow the CAI signs for the final push to the summit of Corno Battisti (1762 m). The time from Sella di Trappola is about 1 hour and 15 minutes (total from the start: 3 hours and 45 minutes). From the summit, backtrack slightly to the junction to descend quickly to Selletta Battisti (1718 m), the official end of the Sentiero Attrezzato Galli (about 4 hours total).

Descent

From Selletta Battisti, after paying homage to the commemorative blocks of Battisti and Filzi, the return begins. Descend to a junction and keep left on trail 119B, which traverses mid-slope toward Valico di Mederle (1679 m, reached in about 40 minutes). From the pass, turn left onto the trail that starts the actual descent: a long, steady, and direct loss of elevation that, dropping nearly 1000 meters, leads back to Tezze in about 2 hours and 30 minutes from the selletta. The total hiking time is around 6 hours.

Useful Notes

The technical difficulty of the route is overall easy. The short equipped sections require mostly using your hands for support, without any real maneuvers on the cable. The route's appeal lies in its powerful historical component and the variety of environments traversed: from forest to tunnels, from exposed ledges to ridge panoramas. It is essential to bring a reliable headlamp for safely crossing the numerous and often dark tunnels. For navigation, it is recommended to use a detailed map of the Pasubio area and Vallagarina.