From the historical centre of Padova to the surroundings, many monuments bear witness to the Great War: castles, villas, shrines that honour the protagonists of the war that witnessed how the city of Padova became the capital of the front after the defeat of Caporetto.
Not only places of defeat, such as the Sacrario di Cima Grappa or the Ponte degli Alpini in Bassano, but also places of entertainment for rulers and soldiers and command headquarters.
The Castle of Catajo at Battaglia Terme was the site of hunting matches by Archduke Ferdinand of Austria shortly before his assassination in Sarajevo, while Villa Selvatico Capodilista was the residence of King Vittorio Emanuele III’s guests.
On the Bacchiglione near the Castle of San Martino della Vaneza in Cervarese Santa Croce, the Arditi used to train to wade across the Piave river, famously recalled by the “Legend of the Piave”, a patriotic hymn composed by master Ermete Giovanni Gaeta.
During the first months of 1918 King Vittorio Emanuele III chose Villa Corinaldi – Lispida of Monselice as his residence, Diaz’s Supreme Command decided its headquarters would be in Abano Terme, the Command of the IV Army of General Giadrino chose the Imperial Villa of Galliera Veneta.
Not only places of war, but also places of peace and victory as Villa Scalfo Monzino in Monterosso (Abano Terme) where the Victory Bulletin was written and the renowned Villa Giusti where the armistice between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire was signed on November 3, 1918.
On the Noble floor of Caffè Pedrocchi it is possible to visit the Museum of the Risorgimento and the Contemporary Age that preserves numerous relics: photographs, an Italian helmet, a 1917 machine gun, the uniform of a carabiniere on horseback, a bicycle.
The headquarters of Palazzo Camerini (Via Altinate, 59) feature the Historical Museum of the Third Army. (Opening hours Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 4:30pm; Saturdays and public holidays from 9:00am to midday. Free entry).
