This film is a step in the work being done to rediscover and exploit the roots of our alpinistic history. It covers the first 50 years of the century and traces the adventures of the first Italian expeditions outside Europe between 1899 and 1954. The story is dominated by the Duke of Abruzzo and his ventures which are an example of scientific and alpinistic organization apart from the results obtained. The film makes use of precious film documents and collections found in collaboration with the National Museum of Mountains in Turin.