Forte Monte Tesoro, Military fort in Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo, Italy.
Forte Monte Tesoro is a military fort located in Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo at approximately 917 meters in elevation. The structure comprises three levels, underground tunnels, and six rotating armored domes equipped with 149mm cannons.
Plans for a barrage on Monte Tesoro date from the 19th century, but work only began in 1906 and, delayed beyond schedule, ended in 1911. The fort belonged to the Lessini barrier group of the Verona fortress, guarding the border with Austria-Hungary that ran across the plateau from 1866. In 2013 the site and its roughly 22-hectare grounds passed to the municipality of Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo, which restored it; it reopened in 2018.
The fort's name comes from Monte Tesoro, the peak it crowns; no treasure legend is documented in the sources. Visitors can see the garrison barracks along the access road, two two-storey buildings also used as workshops, and the powder magazine set in two caves below the fort, linked to it by a long gallery.
The access road leaves the SP12 between Negrar di Valpolicella and Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo just before the Corrubio locality. The fort stands at 917 m on the summit of Monte Tesoro, about 1.5 km from Ponte di Veja. Visits are possible during events or by reservation.
The powder magazine was not inside the fort but in two caves just below it, linked to the works by a long tunnel. The garrison's two barracks stand along the access road and also served as workshops. The fort never fired a shot in anger.
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