Garibaldi and the First World War

Val di Ledro has been always a communication route between Brescia and Lake Garda. It was used for commerce during peace times but also by the armies during wartimes. The army could easily cross the passes of Ponte Caffaro and Forte Ampola thanks to a fast and sure route.

Val di Ledro was the border line between the Kingdom of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire from the beginning of the 19th century until the end of the First World War. This situation had serious consequences  for the safety of the inhabitants.
In 1866 Val di Ledro, and especially Bezzecca, was theatre of the Third Indipendence War of Italy between Garibaldi and his so-called Hunter of the Alps against the Austro-Hungarian army. The fight has been won by Garibaldi and he was ready to conquer Trentino but, the 9th of August, he received the news of the armistice and the order to retreat from Trentino. He replied with the famous "Obbedisco" (i obey) and the valley stayed under the Austrian domination until the end of the First World War. 
During the First World War, Val di Ledro was again between the Italian artillery and the Austrian troops. On both mountain sides of the valley it is possible to see trenches and fortifications.