Napoleon's Italian Campaign. A Travel planner

Events: the Battle of Rivoli (14 January 1797)

Stops: Malcesine (Monte Baldo), Rivoli

Duration: 1-2 days

The trail: The Battle of Rivoli terminated the Austrians’ fourth and last attempt to relieve Mantua. The trail is another tour de force in military manoeuvres and set in the region of Monte Baldo overlooking Lake Garda, the trail is graced by some of the most beautiful sceneries of the Italian Campaign with rich opportunity to do a bit of hiking. The trail offers spectacular views of the Adige valley, the Dolomites, Lake Garda, Monte Baldo and of course the Rivoli plateau, the hottest spot of the fighting. The small town of Rivoli is proud to associate itself with the Battle of Rivoli and has dedicated a very interesting museum to the battle.

Approximate driving time from Rivoli to nearby areas of interest:

Events related to the Battle of Borghetto (Trail VII): 1 hour

Events related to the siege of Mantua (Trail VIII): 1½hours

Events related to the Battle of Bassano (Trail X): 1¾ hours

Events related to the Battle of Castiglione (Trail IX): 1½ hours

Events related to the uprising in Verona (Trail XIII): 1 hour

Suggested sights to visit:

Day trip: Lusignan's march across Monte Baldo

Malcesine / Monte Baldo. Monte Baldo, rising to more than 2,000m and not exactly a friendly place to get caught up in during the bitterly cold winter months, was the cause of the first Austrian delays. The high altitudes’ freezing temperatures forced General Lusignan’s column off the mountain and down towards Malcesine. The cable car from Malcesine takes the traveller right to the peak of Monte Baldo. Open all year.
Daytrip:The battlefield of Rivoli

Mt. Magnone. Joubert was the first of the French commanders to get a taste of the Austrian columns’ fire-power in the mountains. In the night of 12/13 January he pulled back from Ferrara di Monte Baldo to Rivoli trailing the crest of Mt. Magnone down to the plateau of Rivoli. The trail passes the ruins of the small Chapel of St. Marco, which the two enemies took turns in occupying. The ascent to the southern peak along the marked trail is particularly beautiful and allows for an undisturbed panoramic view of the Adige valley, the Rivoli amphitheatre and Monte Baldo. From the peak, the trail continues down to Lubiara and on to Caprino, the centre of the Austrian battle line.

Church of Rivoli. When Bonaparte arrived in Rivoli at 2am on 14 January, only a few hours before the battle commenced, he found Joubert, the commander of Rivoli until then, in the local church. Open to the public.

Village of Ceraino. The Austrian General Vukassovich positioned artillery on the left bank of the Adige at Ceraino in support of the columns that were to climb out of the valley. The ground in front of Ceraino offers a perfect view of the valley outlet, revealing the strategic importance of Mt. Magnone and the Trombasore heights.

The Pontare highway. Driving up or down the old highway, the Pontare, connecting the Rivoli plateau with the Adige valley, is essential when exploring the battlefield: this was the sunken road, or gorge as some historians have called it, that saw some of the fiercest fighting.

Forte di Wohlgemuth. Although the imposing fortress of Rivoli (impossible to miss) is of later date and therefore had nothing to do with the fighting in 1797, it is nevertheless open to the public and its northern walls offer an undisturbed view of the Rivoli amphitheatre, particularly useful when exploring the valley outlet and the Pontare.

Napoleonic monument. In 1806 Bonaparte had a monument raised on the battlefield of Rivoli. Although the Austrians in tore down the column when passing through in 1814, the secluded monument, or what is left of it, is still worth a visit.

Museo Napoleonico. The museum’s several artefacts including old maps, proclamations, plastic models, and archaeological findings make it an interesting place to visit. The museum is located on Rivoli’s main street not far from the church. Mar-Oct 9.30am-12pm & 3.30pm-6.30pm (closed on Mon and Wed).