Riva del Garda, Torbole e Nago were since the ‘800 century strategic military outposts of Asburgic Empire. The Austrian Fortifications are still present and well visible and represented a very well organized defensive system.
The defensive structure included the fortresses on the:
- Mountain Tombio (above Riva)
- Mountain Brione
- near Nago
We will visit only those of the Brione Mountain and of Nago, while they are better conserved
Monte Brione - we depart from Porto S. Niccolò, where we find the Fortress Forte S.Niccolò. It is connected with the upper Fortress Forte Garda, (with 3 levels and 4 armored domes was built during 1907-1909) by a communication trench which run along the crest of the Brione Mountain. On top of the Mountain is the Fortress Forte S. Alexander (1860-1862) modernized in 1908. Below was displaced Middle Battery.
Nago - From the center of Torbole along the road Nago Vecchia. On top of the road we meet two Fortresses: the Forte Alto and the Forte Basso. Together they represent a splendid example of war architecture. The complex closed the road on top of the slope. Mighty and strategically positioned they constituted an insurmountable barrage for the invaders whom were sighted from a big distance. Their perfectly preserved interiors are constructed with small brick. They were connected by communication trench closed by quite a lot meters high boundaries; a strengthened door closed the road. Restored in recent epoch they are now sit of a cultural center and periodically hold high-level exhibition. They are visitable in the opening periods. The Forte Alto holds a typical restaurant and at the 2° level photographic and painting exhibitions.The Forte Basso holds a typical restaurant too.