San Jorio Pass

Passo San Jorio (Passo di San Iório) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.012m (6,601ft) above the sea level located on the border of Switzerland and Italy.

Passo San Jorio

The pass links Garzeno (in the Italian province of Como) and Carena (in the Swiss canton of Ticino). Near the summit of the pass is a mediaeval church and three refuge huts. The entire route is very narrow and has extremely tight and steep hairpin bends.

The road over the pass is unpaved. On the Italian side the road to the summit is drivable, but the last section is closed to motorized vehicles. On the Swiss side there’s a walking trail which can be used by bicycles only.

The road gets worse with increasing altitude. 4x4 vehicle recommended. The road is totally impassable in winters. Located between the Lepontine Alps and the Lugano Prealps, the pass was of strategic importance in earlier times.
Pic: Paolo Aaron Avantaggiato

 

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