While visiting Soca Valley in Slovenia we first went to see the Kobarid Museum which exhibits the history of the Soca (Isonzo) Front in the First World War.
After, we walked uphill to the nearby Kobarid Ossuary. It is an Italian Charnel House dedicated to 7,014 Italian soldiers who fell in this area during the battles of Soca (Isonzo).
“The work was initiated by the Italian state in 1936, during the period when Kobarid was in Italian territory. The Extraordinary Commissioner for the Honouring of the War Dead Ugo Cei commissioned Costruzioni Marchioro di Vicenza to build a series of ossuaries and war memorials, including Kobarid as well as Redipuglia and Monte Grappa. Work was completed at Kobarid in September 1938.”
Source
We could take a look at the inside of the church of St. Anthony but I didn’t want to take photos inside. I love the acoustic of these buildings though!
According to Wikipedia, this is the only war memorial maintained today by the Italian state which does not stand on the soil of Italy. The remains of all other Italian war dead who fell on Slovenian soil were moved to the ossuaries in Italy.
Every year a ceremony is held at Kobarid to honour the dead.
Last look down on the town of Kobarid. There are many beautiful places to see in this area. The emerald river Soča (“Socha”) especially.
See this website if you want to explore further. 😉