Forte Larino - a towering testament to Italian military history

One of Italy's largest forts, Forte Larino stands tall in the Chiesa Valley, just south of Lardaro in Trentino. Built between 1860-62 at an altitude of 2310ft, it was constructed out of chiselled granite, making it a vulnerable target to artillery. The fort measures 9,690 sq ft, and was staffed by 3 officers and 122 enlisted men. In 1914, the fort's armament was removed, and its status was downgraded to a warehouse. However, in 1918, the fort passed into Italian hands and was used as a powder keg until 1956. After 1970, the Autonomous Province of Trento collaborated with the municipalities of the valley to fix up Fort Larino. The fort was water-proofed and is now a World War I museum open for tours.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons