Napoleon's Italian Campaign. A Travel planner

Events: the Battle of Arcole (15 – 17 November 1796).

Stops: Caldiero, Arcole, Ronco

Duration: ½ day

The trail: Led there be no doubt that the Arcole trail is not the most exhilarating. Confined to an uninteresting corner of Italy, the agricultural flat land south of Verona, the scenery fails to live up to the dramatic events of the Austrians’ third attempt to relieve Mantua, a military encounter that has otherwise spell bounded readers for more than 200 years. The trail should be reserved for Napoleonic die-hards only.

Suggested sights to visit:

Ronco headquarters (Municipio). For the three days that the Battle of Arcole lasted (15-17 November), Bonaparte had his headquarters installed in Ronco, the centre of operation. By climbing the dykes at Ronco one gets an idea of the  significant obstacle presented by the River Adige. Opening hours: normal working hours.

The Bridge of Arcole, Arcole. A visit to the modern bridge at Arcole is an anti-climax. It is not the same bridge, it is shorter and the farmland has long since been drained. The only thing in the area’s favour is its vast openness providing easy access and good visibility.

Napoleonic monument, Arcole. The Battle of Arcole is commemorated by an obelisk erected adjacent to the bridge.

Museo Napoleonico, Arcole. In the otherwise uninteresting small village of Arcole there is a small museum dedicated to the Battle of Arcole. Closed at the time of writing. Open from March to July.