THE CADORNA LINE

Hidden among the woods, ridges, and slopes of the upper Verbano lies a little-known but extraordinarily evocative historical heritage: the so-called Cadorna Line

This name commonly refers to the largest Italian defensive system on the Northern Frontier towards Switzerland, designed between 1899 and 1918. Although the name "Cadorna Line" is inappropriate - derived from General Luigi Cadorna, Chief of Staff of the Italian Army during the First World War - it has remained in common usage to identify a vast complex of permanent military works.

The project responded to a concrete strategic concern: to defend the Po Valley from possible attacks from beyond the Alps.

In the upper Verbano area, the Cadorna Line consisted of kilometers of trenches, artillery emplacements, walkways, tunnels, and fortifications of stone and concrete, often camouflaged by vegetation or embedded in the rock. Areas such as Monte San Martino and Campo dei Fiori still preserve these war remnants today.

Curiously, however, these imposing structures were never used for their intended purpose: the attack through Switzerland never occurred. After the First World War, the Line fell into disuse and was abandoned, remaining hidden and forgotten for decades.

Today, thanks to restoration and enhancement projects, many sections have been made accessible to the public and constitute a fascinating destination for hikers, historians, and enthusiasts.