Linking Val di Scalve to Val Camonica, Passo del Vivione climbs a military road built in 1917, remaining one of the most obscure and authentic ascents in the Orobie Alps.
A long climb to an isolated pass
From Schilpario, it’s 19.8 km for 1,369 m of elevation gain, averaging 6.9%, with ramps beyond 12% in the final kilometres. The pass tops out at 1,828 m.
A military road, used by the Giro only twice
Built in 1917 for strategic purposes during the First World War, the road has been used by the Giro d’Italia only twice: in 1981 via the Scalve side, then in 2004 via the Brescia side, where Gilberto Simoni won at the summit ahead of Stefano Garzelli. A refuge, Rifugio Vivione, long run by the Pizio family, welcomes cyclists at the pass.
When to go
June to October — snow generally closes the road the rest of the year given its altitude and exposure.
Good to know
Schilpario, a mountain village in Val di Scalve, is a quiet base for exploring a corner of the Italian Alps far less crowded than the great neighbouring Dolomite passes.
