Alta Via del Granito

The Alta Via del Granito is just not any Alta Via. It's the Italian name for High Trail and in Northern Italy and the Dolomites you can find a lot of them. You may have heard of or you even may have hiked Bookatrekking.com bestsellers Alta Via 1 and Alta Via 2. When it comes to hut to hut hiking Dolomites style, it doesn’t get better than those two phenomenal treks. Although geographically part of the Dolomites, the Alta Via del Granito isn't entirely dolomite. Yep, it's a bit more special than that. Why? Lace up your hiking boots, read our blog post, the tips from Ilse, and go discover the granite trails of the Lagorai!

Hikers come to the Dolomites for their raw beauty: jagged limestone peaks glowing pink at sunset, alpine meadows stitched with wildflowers, quiet valleys dotted with mountain huts. It’s hard to believe that these serene landscapes once formed one of the most surreal and hostile battlefields of the First World War. Yet between 1915 and 1917, the Dolomites were not just a natural wonder—they were a war zone. When Italy entered the war on the side of the Allies and declared war on Austria-Hungary in May 1915, the front line cut directly through the Alps. The Dolomites became the stage for what was called the “White War”: soldiers fighting on icy ridges, in vertical cliffs, and on glaciers, at altitudes where the weather often proved deadlier than enemy fire.

Above the Falzarego Pass in the Dolomites stands Monte Lagazuoi (2,835 m). Today it's known for its wide views and hiking trails, but during the First World War it was part of a cold and lonely front line. Deep inside the mountain, soldiers from Italy and Austria-Hungary dug a maze of tunnels and fought a battle where the rock itself became an enemy. Today, this area is also crossed by the famous Alta Via 1, making it a highlight for hikers looking to mix history with adventure.