Forte Le Finestrelle, building in Trento, Italy
Forte Le Finestrelle is a large mountain fortress with thick stone walls, broad staircases, and several buildings built into the mountainside. The complex extends over many kilometers and consists of several connected sections with underground rooms, guard posts, and passages.
The fortress was built starting in 1728 over more than one century to protect the border between Italy and France and control the Chisone Valley. After World War Two, it fell into ruin but has been restored since the nineteen-nineties by volunteer workers and made accessible to visitors.
This fortress was built in the 18th century as a defense structure and remains a symbol of regional history and engineering skill. The site shows how people once built massive stone structures in mountain areas to protect their borders.
Visits are only possible with guided tours and require advance booking for groups of at least ten people. Bring comfortable hiking shoes, water, and food since the tour lasts several hours and covers uneven terrain.
The famous Scala Reale is a covered staircase with over 3000 steps that winds like a tunnel along the mountainside. This remarkable construction allowed soldiers to pass through the fortress while protected from the elements and from enemy fire.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
