Monte Zerbion, Mountain summit in Saint-Vincent, Italy
Monte Zerbion is a mountain summit near Saint-Vincent, in the Aosta Valley, sitting between two major valleys at an elevation of 2,722 meters. At the top stands a large bronze statue that has marked the skyline of this peak for decades.
In 1932, local communities built a 23-foot (7-meter) bronze statue at the summit to honor soldiers who died in World War I. The memorial became a lasting point of reference for the people living on both sides of the mountain.
On July 29 each year, people from the surrounding valleys make their way up to the statue to take part in a religious gathering. This annual pilgrimage brings together communities from both sides of the mountain in a shared act of devotion.
The summit can be reached from several starting points in the valleys below, with each trail requiring several hours of walking. Solid footwear and enough water are essential, and starting early in the day helps avoid the return in poor light.
The bronze statue is hollow and contains a small chapel with an altar inside, open to visitors who make the climb. Having a functioning place of worship built into a mountain monument at that elevation is very rare in the Alps.
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