Since medieval times, the steep rocks of the Montasio massif, stretching about in an east-west direction, formed the natural border between the Imperial Duchy of Carinthia in the north and the Venetian Domini di Terraferma in the south. In World War I the mountain crest up to the Sella Nevea pass was part of the Italian Front and permanently manned by the Alpini. However, no hostilities happened here as the northern slope of the mountain was too steep for an attack by the Austro-Hungarian Army.