Military shrine of Pocol, Military cemetery and museum in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
The Military Shrine of Pocol is a tower-shaped monument with a two-level base, standing along the road to Falzarego Pass near Cortina d'Ampezzo. Inside, corridors run along the walls lined with niches holding the remains of fallen soldiers and commemorative plaques.
The shrine was built between 1932 and 1935 under the direction of engineer Giovanni Raimondi. It was created to gather and honor the remains of Italian soldiers who died on the Dolomitic front during World War I.
A fresco by Pio Solero inside the small chapel shows an Alpine soldier keeping watch over a fallen comrade. This image gives the memorial a human face and remains visible to anyone walking through.
The memorial sits along the road from Cortina d'Ampezzo toward Falzarego Pass and is easy to reach by car. The interior corridors are narrow and dimly lit, so take your time as you walk through them.
A statue of the Lion of Saint Mark at the entrance was originally brought from Piazza Venezia in Venice. This detail reflects the long period when the Ampezzo valley was part of the Venetian Republic, a history many visitors do not expect to find here.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
