Photo: Matteo Ianeselli, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Fortress / Tower, 1879
Complesso fortificato di Mattarello
Building in Mattarello, Italy
Trento (TN), Trentino-South Tyrol
At a glance
- Type
- Fortress / Tower
- Period
- Modern era, 1879
- Coordinates
- 45°59′52″ N, 11°08′05″ E
History and description
The Mattarello Fortified Complex is part of the system of forts built to protect the city of Trento. The fort was built from 1877-80 on the slopes of the mountain Vigolana. The complex controls access to the city from the Adige Valley. The complex was built with 3 levels, the lowest level was built 188990 with four 9 cm M75 field cannons for close defense. The lower section had two levels—1 above ground, which was surrounded by a moat, and one below ground.
Low battery
The low battery was built between 1877 and 1880 out of local stone. The battery's job was to block an enemy assault coming down the Lagarina Valley from Rovereto. The battery was armed with four 7 cm guns. At the beginning of World War I, the low battery was obsolete, so the guns were removed and it was used as a warehouse. After World War I, the low battery was used as a powder magazine. In 1928, an explosion ripped apart the lower battery killing one soldier. Today the remains of the battery are used to house horses.
Middle battery
The middle battery was built between 1877 and 1880 out of local stone. The middle battery's role was that of the low battery, controlling the route from Rovereto. Fort Romagnano had the same role, but the battery could fire more shells than Romagnano. The middle battery’s armament was five 12 cm howitzers in armored domes, five 8 cm quick-firing guns, and numerous rifle slits covering the approaches. When the Italians declared war in May 1915, the battery was considered vulnerable because it could be seen from a distance and was constructed out of weak materials. In 1915, the guns were removed and placed at the Zampetta battery. Concrete domes were placed where the guns had been to deceive the Italians as to their location. The fort is still owned by the Italian military and is in poor condition.
High or Zampetta battery
The high or Zampetta battery was built between 1898 and 1900. The fort was located 400 metres away from the highest level of the Mattarello works; this is where the armored domes from the Mattarello works were moved to. Unlike the lower parts of the complex, Zampetta could control the Adige and Valsorda Valleys in addition to the Fricca Pass. Zampetta's armament was five 10 cm guns originally, and in the summer of 1915, four 12 cm and 8 cm guns were added from the other parts of Mattarello. Until the 1980s Zampetta was used as a powder magazine for the Italian army; this is why Zampetta is so well preserved.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Complesso fortificato di Mattarello».
Timeline
- 1879Built
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
VillazzanoTrain, nearest
5.4 km as the crow flies
Complesso fortificato di Mattarello
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore fortresses and towers in Trentino-South Tyrol
Frequently asked questions
Where is Complesso fortificato di Mattarello?
Complesso fortificato di Mattarello is in Trento, in the province of Trento (Trentino-South Tyrol), Italy. GPS coordinates: 45.99778, 11.13472.
How old is Complesso fortificato di Mattarello?
Wikidata dates it to 1879.
What else is there to see near Complesso fortificato di Mattarello?
Nearby you’ll find: Torre Franca Castle (900 m away), Forte Doss Fornas (1.7 km away), Forte Brusafer (2.6 km away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Trento-Mattarello-Obere Batterie Mattarello 1 — Matteo Ianeselli, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Forte Alto Mattarello, posto di guardia — Alessandro_cestaro, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Forte Alto Mattarello — Alessandro_cestaro, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Forte di Mattarello - cupole — Llorenzi, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Forte di Mattarello 01 — Llorenzi, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Forte Mattarello (2) — Digioman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mattarello forte inverno — Matteo Di Giovanni, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Batteria alta (2) — Digioman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Batteria Zampetta — Digioman, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences