The Redipuglia War Memorial, locally referred to as Sacrario Militare di Redipuglia, is the largest war memorial in Italy and also among the most significant war shrines in the entire world.

It is located in Friuli Venezia Giulia in the province of Gorizia sul Carso on the western slope of Monte Sei Busi, northeastern Italy. The massive memorial is established where the violent battles along the Isonzo river took place during the First World War.

The Redipuglia War Memorial is keeping the remains of 100,187 Italian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the short period between 1915 and 1917.

The History of Sacrario Militare di Redipuglia

Sacrario Militare di Redipuglia was built on a project by the architect Giovanni Greppi and the sculptor Giannino Castiglioni to replace the Sant’Elia Cemetery that stood on the spot before. Sacrario Militare di Redipuglia was inaugurated in 1938, after ten years of intense ongoing work. 

Giovanni Greppi and Giannino Castiglioni described their idea of the place to be: “very grandiose, simple, austere and lasting.” The site consists of multiple areas, including walkways, caves, trenches, machine-gun posts, and mortars.

The Redipuglia War Memorial Sections and Surroundings

The main sections of the site can be summed up as follows:

• The Shrine. The monument represents a military deployment with the tomb of the Duke of Aosta, commander of the III Army, at the base. On its sides are placed the tombs of his generals. Behind, arranged on twenty-two steps, are the bodies of 100,187 known and unknown fallen men. 
• The Church. Under three black 107-meter-high crosses stands the chapel of The Redipuglia War Memorial. Its interior of black marble is accessible from a lower level placed before the end of the stairs.
• The Museum. On the back of the two-room chapel, a little and fascinating museum has been organized, which holds a gathering of documents, photographs, paintings, letters, and relics from the war.
• Colle Sant’Elia Cemetery. The former cemetery grounds were rearranged and replaced by the grandeur of the current war memorial. Anyway, their initial position and history are well-marked and easy to explore.
• Surroundings. When around Sacrario Militare di Redipuglia, you will also notice several additional memorials. These include The Austro-Hungarian War Cemetery of Redipuglia and Dolina dei Bersaglieri.
• The place hosts numerous demonstrations all throughout the year. These include official ceremonies, historical movie projections, and different events meant to honor the fallen memory. 

Planning your visit to The Redipuglia War Memorial 

The timetable of the site varies in the summer and winter season. Ongoing area maintenance, reconstruction works, and anti-epidemic measures make it wise of you to check the schedule prior to your visit. 

The Redipuglia War Memorial is easy to reach, as it is located near the local railway station and also offers its own parking lot.

All you need to do is pack your stuff and go exploring human history as it is: imperfect and full of lessons to be learned.