Since the eighteenth century, Via Rastello has represented the commercial heart of the city.

From August 1916, it was one of the main axes of movement for Italian troops, who, coming from Via Santa Chiara, were headed towards the new front established on the San Marco–Vertojba line. Since January 1917, directly opposite Via Cocevia, Italian troops had established one of the garrison points scattered throughout the city to monitor any Austrian raids. The windows, between the sandbags, housed embrasures for rifle emplacements.