Covolo di Butistone
Ancient fortification dug into a cave above the Canale di Brenta, visitable with a guide in the summer season.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Covolo di Butistone is an ancient military fortification that blocked the Canale di Brenta between Primolano and Cismon del Grappa until the end of the 18th century, defending one of the main communication routes between the Italian peninsula and Germany. It consisted of two buildings: a customs house, where a tax on goods in transit had been collected since the Middle Ages, and the fortification proper, carved into a large natural cave overhanging the rock face above the river. The earliest document mentioning its presence dates from 1004.
Between the 13th and 14th centuries it was the object of disputes among medieval lords, including the Carraresi, Scaligeri and Visconti. In the 15th century it passed to the Republic of Venice, which held it for about a century; after the League of Cambrai wars it entered the domains of the Habsburgs, whose southern border it marked, and remained so until 1796. By the middle of the 18th century the cave alone had sixteen rooms, including storerooms, ammunition depots, armouries, lodgings, a small church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and the prisons.
The military history of the Covolo came to an end in September 1796, when Napoleonic troops, led in person by Napoleon, captured and demolished the customs house. Today the site can be visited with guides, by reservation or according to a seasonal calendar; the surrounding rock faces are known as a climbing wall.
Highlights
- Fortification carved into a cave overhanging the Canale di Brenta
- Remains of storerooms, armouries, church and prisons
- History of the border between Venice and the Habsburg Empire
- Guided visits
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3 |
Prices given by a museum portal (updated December 2024): full €5, reduced €3.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The Covolo lies along the SS 47 Valsugana road, between Cismon del Grappa and Primolano.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The visit is accompanied by guides; the Gruppo Grotte Giara Modon di Valstagna is indicated as the contact for information. |
