Colla di Sanson is an old unpaved military road in the Ligurian Alps
Sanson Pass (also known as Colla di Sanson, Bassa di Sanson o Baisse de Sanson) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.694m (5,557ft) above the sea level, located in the Ligurian Alps, a mountain range on the border between France and Italy.
This unpaved cart-road up is a a former military road, a long transverse pass near the military barracks named to the First Alpine Regiment and the road takes us to the ruins of the six barracks of Marta. The road is 41.5 km (25.78 miles) long, running from Road D43 near La Brigue (a town in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France) to Strada Provinciale 548 near Molini di Triora (a town in the Province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria)..
The entire road is gravel without exception. The condition varies widely and accordingly, the driving skills requirements are different. Along this trail you’ll come across many military constructions such as roads, fortifications, small barracks etc, built before the Second World War to defend the Italian frontier from possible attack by France. By the way, there is a very interesting branch leading to Balcone di Marta, where an enormous fortress is now hidden away beneath its meadows. Other branches lead off to the ancient villages of Realdo and Verdeggia, picturesque little hamlets belonging to the Commune of Triora. These clustered dwellings were built by shepherds on the mountainside.