Is Colle del Garezzo paved?
Italy, europe
20 km
1,795 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure awaits in Liguria, Italy! Colle del Garezzo is a seriously scenic mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,795 meters. You'll find it nestled in the hills of Imperia, in northern Italy.
The road starts out paved, but be warned: it turns to gravel, and gets a bit rough up near the top. They keep the speed limit low at 20 km/h for a reason! Heads up, the road is usually closed from November to the end of March. There's also a 70-meter tunnel, so be prepared for darkness. Seriously, you need to take it slow and steady, especially on the unpaved sections – best to leave your low-riding sports car at home for this one.
This route connects the Arroscia and Argentina valleys. The climb is about 19.5 km long with an average gradient of 7%. The last 7km is gravel. The 18 km descent is all tarmac with a 7.2% average gradient and a few extra steep parts thrown in for fun.
Historically, the road is part of the Via del Sale, a route dating back to the Middle Ages. It was used to haul salt from the coast. Later, it was beefed up into a military road to connect forts along the French border. Now, it's a fantastic off-road track that snakes along the ridges of the Maritime Alps, right on the border between Italy and France. Expect wild landscapes, stunning sea views, and unforgettable mountain vistas. The road saw use in WWII, adding another layer to its already rich history.
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 20 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,795 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
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