The ridgeline of Glockenkarkopf forms the international border extending between two mountain passes, Krimmler Tauern in the west and Birnlücke (Forcella del Picco) in the east.

The first known ascent of the Glockenkarkopf was made on 10 July 1895 by Franz Hofer and Fritz Koegl, who published an account of their tour in the journal of the Österreichischer Alpenverein in 1897.

Tolomei believed to have reached the northernmost point of the Adriatic Sea's drainage basin in the Alps, and — in accordance with his natural border theory — therefore considered the peak to rightfully belong to the Italian nation state.

Since he also declared himself to be the first ascensionist, Tolomei deemed it legitimate to rename the summit Vetta d'Italia, literally "Peak of Italy".

According to Austrian nobleman and political theorist Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn, United States president Woodrow Wilson was poorly knowledgeable about European geography and history, and allegedly had been convinced by the name "Vetta d'Italia" of the legitimacy of Italy's claim to the region.