Gaviapass
South ramp of the Gaviapasses
K
The Gavia Pass (Italian Passo di Gavia ) is a mountain pass in the Italian Alps, between the Sobretta - Gavia Group in the west and the Ortler Alps in the east.
Location
Located in Lombardy, he connects Bormio in the north with Ponte di Legno in the south with a 43 km long pass road. On the north ramp are ten Return to 2618 m slm to pass through high-altitude mountain pass, on the south ramp of 15 turns. The to be overcome difference in altitude is about 1400 m, respectively.
The pass presents itself relatively well developed and two lanes on its north ramp. The only since the late 1990s consistently paved south ramp on the other hand has some very tight corners and a partial only 1.9 to 3 feet wide road. For oncoming traffic, there are some passing places. On the south side there is also a 800 m long tunnel which serves as a bypass for a now blocked to traffic, very narrow section. On busy days it may occur, especially on the south ramp to difficult traffic situations, as there is a passage of two vehicles that encounter each other is impossible on some sections.
The pass lies between the Monte Gavia ( 3223 m slm ) and the Corno dei Tre Signori ( 3360 m slm ) and offers a good view of the glaciers of the Adamello.
The Gavia Pass is occasionally involved in challenging mountain stages of the Giro d' Italia and then often marks the highest point of the race, the Cima Coppi, where most mountain classification are awarded points.
History
For a long time the Gavia an insignificant pass. However, he was also known to the people of the Stone Age, like an old settlement site on the north of the pass located Malga dell'Alpe (2300 m) proves. But only in the end of the Middle Ages gained a certain importance of the Gavia.
The Venetians laid in the late Middle Ages to a mule track over the Gavia Pass, on the one hand to the Hapsburg Tyrol deal, on the other hand, Lombardy, both of which were in competition with Venice. In the 16th century the traffic over the Gavia grew rapidly, he became one of the most important passes of the Venetians. Not for nothing called the Venetian mule track, which led him, " Strada Imperiale ". Although he has been expanded several times, the biggest shortcoming of the Gavia could not eliminate: In the winter he was not regularly used, only in the summer you could commit him for a few months.
After the decline of the Venetians of the Gavia Pass for a long time was hardly used. Only in the time of the First World War, a road was built over it.
Pictures
Giro d' Italia 1998
Memorial at the pass