Tombolin staircase in Rava

The Cime di Rava group of granite conformation and branch towards the south-west of the Cima d'Asta massif, in the second half of 1916 saw the construction of a series of defensive works, at the base of the reliefs as well as at altitude, by the third sector of the XV° Italian Division.

Up here even today it is possible to admire a notable quantity of war artefacts which are characterized by the excellent state of conservation of some works, which are difficult to find elsewhere.
Villages of huts, a network of paths and mule tracks, caves, dry trenches, artillery emplacements, machine gun positions and observatories - plus a small church - were built within a few months by the men of the Engineers.
Imposing works in rock environments, well preserved thanks to the hardening of the granite, which leave hikers impressed due to their size.

One of the most significant works is the multi-segment staircase of Tombolin di Rava, carved mainly into the slope of the summit rocks and made up of around eighty steps.

In this area the avalanches, caused by the heavy snowfalls of the winter of 1916-17, caused many victims of both armies.  In order to guarantee transit, a network of tunnels was dug and in less than 20 days a one kilometer long tunnel was built on the Fierollo. 
On 7 November 1917 the order reached the Italian units to retreat towards Mount Grappa and destroy everything the troops had achieved in many months of work. 
In 2010 the staircase was included in the variant of the Sat 366b route.

How to reach it: from Bieno, forest road on the left just before the "Ponte della Galina" for about one kilometer (no entry for unauthorized persons), path SAT 332 which leads to Malga Ravetta di Sotto, continue on path SAT 366 until in Forcella Fierollo; or deviating from path 332 in locality. Sant'Antonio via Longon bridge and from here to the Fierollo di Sotto and di Sopra huts (Sat 365) where you can see the remains of what was the "Citadel among the mountains".

For further information: Girotto Luca and Gioppi Franco, Itineraries of the Great War in Valsugana Orientale and Tesino, Tipografia Litodelta, Scurelle (TN) 2007, pp. 47-50.