Via Ferrata = Iron Way. The origins of the Vie Ferrate in Northern Italy began a little over a century ago during WWI, with the exception of a few rudimentary pathways that were built a little earlier in the Alps, both for tourism and exploration.  The mountain passes in the Dolomites are no joke. They are steep, jagged, remote, and very dangerous. And yet, they became part of the front lines during WWI . . . I've pulled from this website to share a little background and history on the Via Ferrata: https://www.dolomitemountains.com/en/resources/dolomites-tips/via-ferrata-climbing-the-iron-paths-of-the-dolomites A History of Via Ferrata in Italy World War I Vie ferrate were initially built in Italy to aid the movement of Italian alpine military units through the Dolomites in World War I.  In 1915, Italy entered the war joining the Allies of Britain, France, and Russia. At this time, the Dolomites were still a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a member of the opposing Centra...