FORT MONTE ARENA

 

 

Upon passing the ruins of Fort Centrale Zuccarello, near a quarry, the road crosses a bridge over the Neva river, and siding the excavation area, it continues, partially asphalted, towards Fort Monte Arena. After a couple of kilometres we reach a fork in the road. By continuing to follow the road, we find the fortification. The edifice cannot be seen, even though the road passes beside it, due to the fact that it is hidden by thick vegetation. The edges of the woods hide numerous remanents of the walls.

Very few of the edifices of this fortification remain, and those that can be found are chipped. This is because of the explosions carried out by the Germans during the Second World War. Few of the original elements remain. Some of which we do not know their original purpose. Hidden by the thick vegetation, we can hardly recognize the artillery emplacements for the six 15 GRC (Ret) cannons. Each emplacement was separated by other underground ready lockers. From these, two staircases, now hidden by rubble, reached the scarp tunnel on the southern side. On this side and facing the valley, we can still see the surrounding barrage, the curtain wall and some embrasures, partly in brick and partly in stone, which were used to defend the moat shown here. The embrasures were part of the scarp tunnel, which can still be accessed, and which reached two of the three caponiers of the complex, still partly well preserved. The one on the Zuccarello side is perpendicular to the rock.

The Fort was originally provided with two-storey barracks and a basement, which was located on the gorge of the complex. Nothing but a few blocks of stone here and there amongst the vegetation remain of this part, and the scarce traces hidden by the vegetation belonged to the artillery emplacements. The complex could be accesed by crossing the drawbridge. Once across the guard area was reached. The path continued by passing under part of the barracks and, once this was passed, it came out at the artillery emplacements. The basement of the barracks included seven rooms, with embrasures which jutted out towards the moat. A staircase allowed four of the rooms to be reached. These were connected to the third caponier. This no longer exists but was positioned where the open space near the buildings is now.

The ground floor was made up of 19 rooms, which were subdivided in offices, storerooms, and facilities for the troop. They were separated by long corridors. From here the platform where two 15 AR (Ret) mortars were placed, could be reached.

The last floor was made up of 10 rooms, which were united by a corridor.

The road from Fort Centrale Zuccarello, now passes through the area where the moat and part of the barracks used to be.

Visiting the edifice, which is still under the Demanio Patrimoniale, could be very dangerous and is not very interesting. We, therefore do not suggest scouting it out. 

 

 

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