Man has left a number of ancient marks in the Cinque Torri-Averau area since the early traces of seasonal settlements of shepherds and woodcutters and the alterations of the environment that followed.
An unpublished collection of 47th vintage postcards of Cortina and surroundings, from the 20's to the 50's .
The Ampezzo bowl, summer 1902 (by A. Marchetti da Valle)
Chapter 16 - Sarajevo and the mud of Galicia
The assassination of Sarajevo which marks the end of the golden age for the Danubian monarchy is, for the Ampezzo Community, the dark abyss that swallows up the happy diversity. Over four centuries, Ampezzo had had the best from Italy, its border Country; from the language to the climate , from traditions to trades, without being overburdened by the many problems like the ones imposed by the Union and the war policy that had worn out the population . Neighbouring Cadore had lost nearly half of its people who had migrated overseas. In the same years, instead, tourism had made Ampezzo so extremely wealthy that it could even receive immigrants from Veneto or Tyrolean valleys. The "Captaincy of Ampezzo", the smallest in Tyrol and perhaps in the whole empire, enjoyed an excellent government of the common good, the administration of justice was speedy and within everyone's reach, the school system was serious and free. Four gendarmes and a sergeant were enough to maintain public order. The "ennui" of the economic well-being was tempered by Carnival festivities and in four hours stage-coaches would carry the rich – greater in number every year – to Dobbiaco railway station, gateway to Central Europe.
Students would attend the universities of Vienna, Prague and Innsbruck. During tourist seasons, contacts with the rich European bourgeoisie , Russian nobles and American billionaires would positively affect the mental development of the lower classes as well.
July 1914, suddenly, all is over. The four postmen rush with telegrams of cancellation. For the first time ever, hotels will remain empty. Call-up bulletins are posted. In August, Suedbahn troop-trains will carry the Tyrolean youth into the mud of Galicia. The war worsens and also political tolerance comes to an end. Suspected pro-Italians start being deported. All the classes, back to 1860 are called up. The elders are mobilized as workers. At the beginning of winter 1915, the village is left without its men. And more telegrams are arriving, with announcements of death from the fronts of Serbia and the Carpathians, from the fortress towns of the east, where Austria is losing its most beautiful brigades.
Italy, Austria, and Germany had signed a treaty of alliance in 1882, which had been regularly renewed every five years, the last one in 1912. Therefore Franz Joseph is rather astonished, and with good reasons, when he receives the declaration of war on the 23rd May, 1915. His diplomats had hoped for a state of neutrality till the last minute. Beyond any political considerations, in his message to the people, the old emperor talks about "treason".
This meant, in fact, a front that the Austrian General Staff could hardly control, unless they took up a defensive position in the mountains of the borderline.
Cortina learnt that Italy would be engaged in the war on the 24th May when public officials, the gendarmerie, and Customs officers were ordered to retreat to Brunico with the archives. The few standschuetzen remained, most of them sick or wounded, were ordered to retreat behind Son Pauses. On the 25th May there were only children, women, and unfit old men left in the town. But the Italian army would not appear yet.
26th and 27th May went by. On the 28th, in the late afternoon, a patrol with an officer and few foot soldiers came down from Tre Croci and was received in the Town hall by head of the commune Agostino Demai. He was "invited" along with parish priest Antonio Pallua, immediately summoned, to follow them up to the pass to hear the instructions major Bosi wanted to give before the soldiers descended to occupy the village.
On the 29th May the Italian army took possession of Cortina, marching through it in two columns, one from San Vito and the other from Tre Croci, without firing a single bullet.
