Isonzo News

To celebrate the release of the Montello Expansion, we bring you the Montello Cycling Tour! Time to pay our respects.

In the Cycling Tour, we'll be exploring the area represented in the Montello map. There's a lot of history to be found here, from the very structures that played a role in this battle to the monuments erected in memory della Grande Guerra. Every Friday we'll make a new stop at one of these historic locations until we arrive at our final destination: The Nervesa della Battaglia train station.

[h3]Previously: Francesco Baracca [#4][/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1556790/view/4704662705453838153

We continue cycling up and down the hill as we make our way to our next stop. Following the main road down is the quickest way. Going straight will get you stuck at a private road, though you can cycle the long way around for the scenic route!




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[h2]Stop #5: Sacrario Ossario Militare del Montello[/h2]



Literally translated as "Military Ossuary Shrine of Montello", this structure designed by Felice Nori is the final resting place of many Italian soldiers that fell fighting in the surrounding region during WW1. It stands 32 meters tall and houses the remains of 9,325 soldiers, of which 6,099 were identified and 3,226 remain unknown. They were previously buried in about 120 smaller cemeteries scattered along the Piave, but were collected and moved to this ossuary (similar to a mausoleum but at a much larger scale) when it was inaugurated in 1938 for the 20th anniversary of the Second Battle of the Piave.



Inside however, there's more than you might expect. The ossuary has four floors, the first two of which house the remains of the soldiers with a small chapel on the second flour. A lot here is beautifully decorated in marble. On the third floor, there's a small museum dedicated to the Second Battle of the Piave. The displays are filled with finds from the battlefield, including rifles, pistols, grenades, swords & medals.



On the fourth floor you'll be able to admire the surroundings from higher up through the square windows you can see in the photos. You can't get all the way to the top of the tower, but it does feature a glass roof to let in a lot of light.

Both the ossuary and the museum inside are completely free to visit, so if you're ever nearby, be sure to check it out! Feel free to leave a little donation for the people who keep the place open and well kept.

[h2]Up next[/h2]

Next time, we'll cycle downhill and say goodbye to Montello, as we enter the village of Nervesa della Battaglia. See you at the Fontana di Piazza la Piave!

The route on Google Maps

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[h2]Visit Montello![/h2]
The Montello Cycling Tour is a collaboration with local organizations. We'd like to thank them for helping us out with information about the region, the history and photos they provided. If you're interested in visiting the area, please check them out and tell them we sent you!



[hr][/hr]
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Today we released a small patch, these are the changes.

• Updated the network version
  
• Updated the Unity version
  
• Made minor changes in the back-end
  

The download size is expected to be around 515mb.

To celebrate the release of the Montello Expansion, we bring you the Montello Cycling Tour! Prepare for inclines.

In the Cycling Tour, we'll be exploring the area represented in the Montello map. There's a lot of history to be found here, from the very structures that played a role in this battle to the monuments erected in memory della Grande Guerra. Every friday we'll make a new stop at one of these historic locations until we arrive at our final destination: The Nervesa della Battaglia train station.

[h3]Previously: The History of Montello Hill [#3][/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1556790/view/4706913871769004155

After a pleasant cycle over Montello and down the hill, we take a right, a second right and face the 15% incline back up. Don't worry, it's only half a kilometer. Here, we arrive at our next destination!




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[h2]Stop #4: Monumento a Francesco Baracca[/h2]

On the side of Montello hill overlooking Nervesa della Battaglia (if it wasn't for the trees), we find ourselves at a shrine-like monument made in honor of Count Francesco Baracca, an Italian war hero credited for 34 aerial victories. He was one of the highest-scoring pilots of the Allies, but sadly did not survive the war.



Born in 1888, Baracca entered the Military Academy of Modena in 1907 at the age of 19 and became a cavalryman with the Piemonte Reale Cavalleria in 1910. After a short period of being stationed near Rome and later in central Italy, he took an interest in aviation and got his pilot's license in France, 1912. Baracca served the Battaglione Aviatori from then on and into WW1.



[h3]WW1[/h3]

In 1915, Baracca was assigned to the 8a Squadriglia Nieuport. However, the French Nieuport 10s biplanes used by this squadron were heavily outclassed by the Austro-Hungarians as they were too slow and the guns had the tendency to jam when you needed them the most.

A year later, the squadron was upgraded with Nieuport 11 fighters equipped with Lewis guns. With this new plane, it took Baracca only a couple days to score his first victory, the first aerial victory of Italy in the war. The maneuver he used for this victory quickly became his signature move: he would fly behind and below the enemy, moving in while remaining unseen. Once within pistol range, he would unleash the Lewis.

Around this time, Baracca adopted a black prancing horse as his personal emblem, plastered on his plane in tribute of his former cavalry regiment. We'll get back to this later!



He got his second victory over Gorizia a couple weeks later and was transferred to a new squadron as Capitano after his third victory, Baracca and his new SPAD VII plane were transferred again after 9 victories a year later to the newly formed 91st Squadriglia as the head of the "Squadron of the Aces". At this point, he was already nationally famous for his victories.

Baracca almost lost his life to friendly fire by one of his friends, Fulco Ruffo di Calabria, who was later senator of Italy until 1934 and father of Paola Ruffo di Calabria, Queen of Belgium until 2013 as wife of former king Albert II.

[h3]The Montello Mission[/h3]

His success continued throughout the war, being promoted to Maggiore (Major) in November 1917 and raising his victory count to 30. Baracca didn't see much action in 1918 but did get 4 more victories. In June 1918, he was assigned to a strafing mission on Montello. Accompanied by rookie pilot Franco Osnago, they were hit by ground fire and got seperated. Minutes later, both Osnago and the airfield saw a plane light up in flames and fall from the sky.

After the Austro-Hungarian retreat, Baracca's remains were recovered. Reportedly, he took a bullet to the head, but it's unclear what exactly took place. His pistol was out of its holster and away from his body, leading people to think he took his own life before hitting the ground. However, an Austrian pilot claimed to have shot him in combat, which is backed up by Austro-Hungarian records.

[h3]Baracca's Legacy[/h3]

Francesco Baracca was awarded with a Gold Medal of Military Valor, two Silver Medals of Military Valor, one Bronze Medal of Military Valor, the British Military Cross, the French Croix de Guerre, the Belgian Order of the Crown and the Serbian Order of Karađorđe Star for his service during the war. His home in Lugo di Romagna was turned into a museum dedicated to him, many bridges and roads across the country are named after him. The airport of Bolzano, the Roma-Centocelle Air Force base and the Lugo di Romagna airfield are named after him as well.



The monument we're at right now was erected where Baracca's plane crashed. Once proudly looking over Nervesa della Battaglia, the spot is now quite obscured by trees, visible only to those who visit the monument to remember him. The monument features a dedication by Gabriele D'Annunzio on its frieze and a plaque in the center with his likeness, the Prancing Horse from his emblem and the griffin used by the 91st Squadriglia.



The Baracca legacy continues to this day, however. In the years following the war, Baracca's mother paid a visit to Enzo Ferrari. She suggested to adopt the Baracca Prancing Horse for the logo of Ferrari, as a good luck charm. Ferrari accepted this request. While the exact design was changed numerous times over the years, the iconic Ferrari logo – likely one of the most recognizable logos in the world – is the Prancing Horse of Francesco Baracca.



[h2]Up next[/h2]

Our next stop isn't that far away: the Sacrario Ossario Militare del Montello. You'll have some downhill to enjoy, but don't get too comfortable! There's even steeper incline around the corner. See you there!

The route on Google Maps

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[h2]Visit Montello![/h2]
The Montello Cycling Tour is a collaboration with local organizations. We'd like to thank them for helping us out with information about the region, the history and photos they provided. If you're interested in visiting the area, please check them out and tell them we sent you!



[hr][/hr]
[h3]Follow our socials:[/h3]
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To celebrate the release of the Montello Expansion, we bring you the Montello Cycling Tour! Please don't get lost in the woods.

In the Cycling Tour, we'll be exploring the area represented in the Montello map. There's a lot of history to be found here, from the very structures that played a role in this battle to the monuments erected in memory della Grande Guerra. Every friday we'll make a new stop at one of these historic locations until we arrive at our final destination: The Nervesa della Battaglia train station.

[h3]Previously: The Boys of '99 [#2][/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1556790/view/6468946777869867362

While heading to our next stop, the Monumento a Francesco Baracca, we're cycling through the beautiful landscape on Montello. Let's have a little intermission here, take a little break and talk a bit more about the history of Montello itself and a bit about the area as seen in-game.


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[h2]Stop #3: Montello Hill[/h2]

There's more to this hill than simply being "bean-shaped". It played a big role in the history of the region for as long as humans have lived in the area, so let's talk you through some of the highlights. We're not sticking to just WW1 this time!

[h3]Up until the Renaissance[/h3]

Humanity's relationship with Montello goes back all the way to pre-historical times. Chipped stone points were found along the northern edge of Montello. These rudimentary stone tools were dated all the way back to the European Mesolithic era, dated roughly to 13,000-3,000 BC. It is assumed that these early inhabitants occupied the many caves that lead into Montello and exploited the river and forested area on the hill to sustain themselves.

Skipping ahead to the Classical Era, Montello and its surrounding region was settled by reformed soldiers of the Roman army. It's assumed a fortress was built on the site of current-day Nervesa della Battaglia, which was first documented as Nervisia in the year 954.

In 1062, the Abbey nearby was founded. This was the site where between 1550 and 1555, Giovanni Della Casa wrote Il Galateo. Known in English as Galateo: The Rules of Polite Behavior, this courtesy guide on how to behave in 'ordinary' social life during the Renaissance formed the very foundation used for modern etiquette used to this very day. It's likely to have influenced even Shakespeare's comedies.



[h3]Post-Renaissance to the 20th Century[/h3]

Montello forms a large patch of oak & chestnut trees and is a major source of timber for the region. This is especially true for Venice, which used the timber procured from Montello for their shipyards and building foundations. In fact, it was so important to Venice that the Republic of Venice assumed ownership over the hill and declared it completely off-limits to the local population.

The residents, mostly hunters and woodsmen, were deprived of their homes and income. They became a class of "landless, homeless and jobless miserables", known as the Bisnenti ('twice have-nots'). They survived on odd jobs and crime but eventually emigrated in search of greener pastures in the Americas, France, Germany and Australia. Legislation was pushed to give Montello back to the Bisnenti in 1892, but the re-settlement and the damage from WW1 ruined the appeal of the woods for many.

The Bisnenti are remembered with Le Scorrerie dei Bisnenti, a competition where contestants cut and transport timber. Source.

Skipping WW1 for now (we'll get back to it, don't worry), we're going to 1930. In July this year, the Montello area was struck by an extremely violent tornado. While a tornado is quite rare in Europe to begin with, this specific one ranked F5 and is one of if not the strongest tornado ever recorded in Europe. With gusts of an estimate 400-500 km/h, this tornado caused extensive damage in its 132km long path from Casoni to Talmassons, killing at least 21.

Damage done to a church in Volpago del Montello

[h3]WW1 and Isonzo[/h3]

Going slightly back in time, let's talk about WW1 again.

When the Austro-Hungarians pushed for Nervesa della Battaglia, they passed through the farms and woodlands on Montello, about where we're at with the tour right now. The first sector in-game is set around this area, where Italian artillery is set in a system of trenches. These trenches are quite unique: instead of planks, they weaved branches together to strengthen most of the sides.



Below are a couple more images of the woods, farms and vineyards on Montello as seen in Isonzo. War doesn't leave much nature intact, so it's not too surprising the Bisnenti weren't too interested in going back. It takes a lot of time and work to get a battlefield back to its old self, which may not always be worth it when the soil isn't that great to begin with.



[h2]Up next[/h2]

Back to the present! Let's continue our cycle through the forests and the vineyards that occupy Montello in the current day. It's a beautiful area with lots of little roads and paths to explore – just be careful not to turn into any private roads.

Photo supplied by Agli Zattieri.

Now, we're off to the Monumento a Francesco Baracca, for real this time. See you there!

The route on Google Maps

[hr][/hr]
[h2]Visit Montello![/h2]
The Montello Cycling Tour is a collaboration with local organizations. We'd like to thank them for helping us out with information about the region, the history and photos they provided. If you're interested in visiting the area, please check them out and tell them we sent you!



[hr][/hr]
[h3]Follow our socials:[/h3]
X / Twitter YouTube Discord Reddit

To celebrate the release of the Montello Expansion, we bring you the Montello Cycling Tour! Clear skies and a light breeze not included.

In the Cycling Tour, we'll be exploring the area represented in the Montello map. There's a lot of history to be found here, from the very structures that played a role in this battle to the monuments erected in memory della Grande Guerra. Every friday we'll make a new stop at one of these historic locations until we arrive at our final destination: The Nervesa della Battaglia train station.

[h3]Previously: The Piave Crossing [#1][/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1556790/view/4608959311774212150

We arrive at the second stop of the tour after a short 5 minute cycle through Parrocchia Santa Croce. It gets quite steep here, so I hope you haven't been skipping leg day.

The route on Google Maps

Oh and by the way, happy anniversary! Isonzo released exactly 2 years ago, so we'd like to thank you for being here with us! We couldn't have gotten this far with you, and there's plenty more on the way! Now, onto the tour.


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[h2]Stop #2: Monumento Ragazzi del '99[/h2]

We find ourselves at Monumento Ragazzi del '99 in Santa Croce del Montello, a monument dedicated to The Boys of '99. These kids got their call for conscription in 1916 at the age of 17 and sent to the front lines in 1917 once they reached the age of 18.

[h3]About the Boys of '99[/h3]

The first group of 80,000 conscripts was called upon in first 4 months of 1917. Upon arrival, they were hastily prepared for war and merged into the front lines along the Piave in November 1917, shorty after the losses in the Battle of Caporetto in October. Earlier that year in May, another group of 180,000 teenagers was called, with a smaller group later in July.

Source

The end of 1917 was a time of desperation for the Italian Army, as the Battle of Caporetto was a costly defeat and both the German and Austro-Hungarian forces were gaining ground. The Italians managed to prop up their ranks at the Piave, Grappa and Montello with the fresh, but inexperienced Boys of '99. These new numbers helped with the landslide victory in the Second Battle of the Piave River in June 1918 and allowed for a large scale counter-offensive in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, the Italian victory that ended the war on the Italian front in November 1918 and contributed to the end of WW1 just one week later.

In many places you'll find references to the Boys of '99, from a statue and park in Bassano del Grappa to a viaduct in Gorizia and a plaque in Milan. The last person of the Boys of '99 to remain was Giovanni Antonio Carta, who was born in December 1899 and passed away in June 2007.

Statue Ragazzi del '99 in Bassano del Grappa

[h3]The Monument[/h3]

The monument itself features a large holy cross (Santa Croce), a statue of one of the Boys of '99 holding a flag pole, a second statue representing the mothers of the kids, as well as two field guns. There's a large plaque in honor of "The Heroes of Montello", awarding medals of Military Valor in memory of a number of soldiers. General Giuseppe Vaccari is also highlighted for his command over the XXII corps, which played an integral part in the victory in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto,

Source

Three times a day, the church back in Santa Croce plays La Leggenda del Piave, a patriotic song about the Italian victory in the Second Battle of the Piave River. You can listen to the song below!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

There's a small local history museum near the monument with a complete historical archive of the Ragazzi del '99, but this can only be visited on request.

[h3]In-game[/h3]

In Isonzo, you may recognize "Ragazzi del '99" from the achievement with the same name. It requires you to win 10 matches as a Defender, in honor of the role the Boys of '99 had in halting the Central Powers' advance and pushing them back out of Italy.



[h2]Up next[/h2]

Next time, we'll head further south in the direction of Nervesa della Battaglia. It's about an 18 minute cycle with some elevation. Our stop next week is the Monumento a Francesco Baracca. See you there!

The route on Google Maps

[hr][/hr]
[h2]Visit Montello![/h2]
The Montello Cycling Tour is a collaboration with local organizations. We'd like to thank them for helping us out with information about the region, the history and photos they provided. If you're interested in visiting the area, please check them out and tell them we sent you!



[hr][/hr]
[h3]Follow our socials:[/h3]
X / Twitter YouTube Discord Reddit