The military hospital at Villa Visconti Venosta

The Military Medical Corps was supported by Red Cross doctors, nurses and volunteer Red Cross nurses. The Medical Section was attached to the Regiment and divided into two Medical Units, each commanded by a lieutenant who was a doctor and surgeon. Pack transport medical units were also added to evacuate wounded soldiers from the front lines with the help of mules or horses.

The red crosses painted on the façade and the signs above the doors still bear witness to this chapter in the history of the noble residence and recall the different uses of its rooms: Pharmacy, X-ray Room, Medical Ward, Operating Theatre, Dressing Room, Disinfection Room, Kitchen and Laundry. **

Many period photographs also show the interiors and exteriors of the Villa (and the Hospice). They were taken by Captain Giovanni Soika between the summer of 1916 and autumn 1917, during his forced stay at the field hospital. These photographs, collected in the album “Ricordi di guerra” (“Memories of War”), can now be viewed freely at the Villa’s ticket office.

There are plans to place some of these photographs where they were taken, allowing visitors to compare the Villa’s elegant appearance today with its austere furnishings, once arranged to care for wounded soldiers.

During the Second World War, the Villa was used as a German garrison for a short time.

A visit to Villa Visconti Venosta—a truly unmissable stop—concludes Route 1 of the “The Fortress of Grosio” project. In the future, two more easy-to-access walking routes around the village will be developed, featuring period photographs, historical documents and anecdotes that testify to the important role played by Grosio during this dramatic chapter in history.