Sitting to the east of Trento between Monte Calisio and la Marzola is the 998m tall, somewhat horn-shaped Monte Celva. With more than a few very steep sections, SAT Hiking trail #419 runs up and down the west and east sides of the mountain through thick wooded areas and at times, rocky paths. On the east side is an old Austrian ex-Osservatorio, built in the late 19th century to keep an eye on any activity in the valley below, Valsugana. Trenches and tunnels, still intact, are sprawled out on a small hill, awaiting exploration. Also worth a visit, sitting closer to the base of the mountain on the south side is Forte Sella di Roncogno and, despite a bit of tasteless graffiti, appears to be fully intact and in excellent condition.

At the summit, a clearing, about 100' in diameter, offers a place to rest and, of course, enjoy the beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. To the west, the peaks of the Brenta Dolomites shoot up from behind the Paganella, with Monte Bondone to the southwest and Valsugana and Lago di Caldonazzo to the southeast. Below, just to the north, lies the small town of Civezzano, identified by its parish church, Peive di Santa Maria Assunta.

Also near the top, near an old military cave and a rather large hole, is a huge, green billboard-like structure. I've seen a couple of these in other places in the area, but still haven't figured out what they are. Anyone have an idea what this is?

Tip: Though the Trail on the west side of the mountain has some very steep sections, it's almost better to climb up on this section of the trail than to risk an unintended slide down!

Tip: From the station, take the #5 bus all the way to the end to Oltrecastello. Look for trail markers, red and white signs for SAT trail #419, near the church across from the bus stop.

Links:
Map - Monte Celva
More photos - Monte Celva