An old military road to Tremalzo Pass
Passo del Tremalzo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,845m (6,053ft) above sea level, located in Italy. The road to the summit was built for strategic reasons during World War I.
Where is Tremalzo Pass?
The pass is located on the boundary between the Autonomous Province of Trento (Trentino-Alto Adige region) and the Province of Brescia (Lombardy), in the northern part of the country.
When was the road to Tremalzo Pass built?
During WWI, Italian soldiers occupied the southern side of the valley, placing their headquarters at this pass. The Austrians were on the northern side, where they had already dug out several trenches and prepared artillery. The Italian troops did not have enough time to excavate the rock to make shelters and attack points, but they transformed the old paths linking the valley to the most important mountain areas into cart tracks to allow faster transit of the artillery. The most important of these works regarded the road to Tremalzo.
Is the road to Tremalzo Pass unpaved?
Set high to the west of the iconic Garda Lake, the road to the summit is totally unpaved. It’s called Strada della Grande Guerra. It’s a dirt road all the way, quite rough, and really only suitable for all-terrain/off-roaders such as early Panda 4x4, early Vitara, Jimny, Defender, and similar.
How long is Tremalzo Pass?
The road is 10.6 km (6.58 miles) long, running west-east from Rifugio Garda to Rifugio Alpini Passo Nota.
Can I drive to Tremalzo Pass?
The pass is divided into two very different sections: while the northern flank can be traversed legally, the southern flank has been closed to all motorized traffic since 2015.
Is Tremalzo Pass open?
The route can be traversed only during the summer due to the presence of snow. The opening and closing dates all depend on snowmelt and snowfall each year. In summer, the climate becomes milder thanks to the influence of Lake Garda, while in winter, it snows a lot and the thick blanket of snow lasts from November until April because of its exposure to the northwest.
Is Tremalzo Pass dangerous?
Due to frequent rock slides, the old spectacular road is becoming more and more dangerous. Rocks fallen on are not removed, and sections of road broken away are not renewed. The path must be navigated with caution. With many scenic views of Garda Lake, the average speed is about 5 mph/8 to 10 kph. The pass road has a maximum gradient of 22% through some of the ramps. The drive has a number of shorter rock tunnels.
Road suggested by: Peter W
Pic: Andreas Stallinger