How to get to the summit of Monte Toraro in Vicenza?
Monte Toraro is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.890m (6,200ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Vicenza, in Italy.
Where is Monte Toraro?
The peak is located in the Veneto Region, in the north-eastern part of the country.
Why is Monte Toraro important?
The mountain has hosted several important military structures over the last century, including communications antennas and a NATO missile control base. There’s also a square located atop, offering a wide, sweeping view of the Vicenza plain; on a completely cloudless day, a silvery streak can be seen in the distance, representing the Venice Lagoon.
During the First World War, Monte Toraro was the site of an Italian howitzer battery. The mountain was later captured by Austro-Hungarian troops during the Battle of Asiago.
In the 1960s, Monte Toraro became part of the NATO air defense network. The Passo Coe–Toraro NATO mountain base was one of twelve Italian Air Force missile sites located across northern Italy, forming a strategic element of NATO’s southern European defense system. The installation on Monte Toraro functioned as a mountain missile launch base, active from 1966 to 1977. After its decommissioning, the site was abandoned and completely dismantled.
During the Cold War, additional radars and command posts connected to the nearby Nike missile base (Base Tuono) were built on the summit. These structures remained until the late 1970s, when they were finally blown up after the base ceased operations.
Can I drive to Monte Toraro?
Set high in the Venetian Prealps, a mountain range in the south-eastern part of the Alps in Triveneto, the road to the summit is totally paved yet in bad condition and no longer maintained. It’s closed to private vehicles.
How long is the road to Monte Toraro?
Starting from Valbona Pass, the road to the summit is 2 km (1.24 miles) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 117 meters. The average percentage is 5.85%. The maximum slope is 16%.
Pic&video: rics1299