Colle Fauniera is a tribute to Marco Pantani

Colle Fauniera (or Colle Pantani) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.485m (8,152ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region of Piedmont. It’s said to be the most alluring and unspoilt pass around 2.500 metres in the Alps.

Where is Colle Fauniera or Colle Pantani?

Tucked away on the northern part of the country, this pass (known locally as Colle dei Morti, "Hill of the Dead"), connects Valle Grana, which ends here, with Vallone dell'Arma (a lateral of the Valle Stura di Demonte). The name Colle dei Morti stems from a fierce fighting occurred in 1744, when French and Spanish soldiers were killed nearby in an ambush by their Savoyard enemies. The views are spectacular and the green meadows, filled with a variety of alp flowers, are home to a large population of marmots.

How long is Colle Fauniera or Colle Pantani?

The pass is 45.8 km (28.45 miles) long, running south-north from Demonte to Ponte Marmora. The road is paved but pretty narrow. Some parts of the road are impassable for 2 cars at the same time. The road was fully asphalted first in 1999, to allow the Giro d’Italia race to pass over it. After its appearance on this race there are more tourists each year trying to climb the pass.

Is Colle Fauniera or Colle Pantani open?

The road is usually closed from October to June (weather permitting). This remote, demanding, and magnificent road is one of the highest paved mountain passes in Europe.

Is Colle Fauniera or Colle Pantani steep?

Set high in the Colli di Cuneo of the Cottian Alps, the road is pretty steep, hitting a 13.77% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Starting at Ponte Marmora, the ascent is 22 km long and the elevation gain is 1.567 meters. The average percentage is 7.1 %. And starting at Demonte, the ascent is 24.7 km long. Over this distance, the gain is 1.721meters and the average percentage is 7 %.

Who is Colle Pantani named after?

The summit hosts a huge statue dedicated to the great cyclist Marco Pantani, in memory of his epic climb on the Giro of Italy’99 through the steep climbs of the pass. It happens because the Communal Council Castelmagno in the Italian Piedmont decided to rename the mountain pass and give the official name of "Colle Pantani." The most striking feature of this initiative is that it is not add a name or a second name. It has been changed officially, so the geographical location of the passage of the fauna renamed the pass, being called Colle Pantani. The change, therefore, will be permanent. The new name is just awaiting ratification from the Institute of Military Geography of Italy, and Pantani's name will appear, officially, on topographic maps of the region. This is an unprecedented event, since there is no known cyclist in the world that has given his name to a port.