The Piave is a 220-kilometer-long river in northeastern Italy. It rises in the Carnic Alps near the Austrian border and flows into the Adriatic Sea near Venice. The river flows through diverse landscapes, from mountainous regions to fertile plains and marshlands.
The Piave is known not only for its natural beauty but also for its historical significance, particularly during World War I. After the Austro-Hungarian breakthrough of Caporetto in 1917, the Piave became an important defensive line for Italy. The Italian troops held the river despite several attacks and achieved victory in the decisive Battle of Vittorio Veneto in October 1918. For this reason, the Piave is also venerated in Italy as the "sacred river of the fatherland" and is celebrated in the patriotic song "La leggenda del Piave."
Today, the Piave is an important body of water for the region, used for irrigation and power generation.