This intense route will take you to some interesting and paradise-like places.  It is quite a tough route with an initial climb that reaches 2511m at Colle Fauniera or Colle dei Morti. From Pradleves (meaning field of water, of the springs in local dialect) you reach a narrow valley that follows the stream.  From the crossroads for the hamlet of Colleto, the route is steep, although less so around Chiappi.  It climbs again around the San Magno sanctuary and continues to climb with sharp hairpin turns, especially for the last few kilometres.  The descent towards Demonte is roughly 21km.

The name Colle dei Morti, meaning Hills of the dead (known as Colle Fauniera) derives from a bloody dual in the 17^th Century between the Franco-Spanish and Piedmontese troops in the surrounding valleys. It involves a climb, but more significantly, a descent made famous by the Giro d’Italia – in 1999, Paolo Savoldelli won, attacking exactly at this part of the race.

The route passes Castelmagno, the highest comune of Valle Grana, part of the Occitan Valleys and an important part of the Grande Traversata delle Alpi. By Claudio Pasero and Daniela Pestarino

Fauniera hills read all here
Comune of Pradleves website here

Sanctuary of San Magno read all here
Comune of Castelmagno website here
The “Grande Traversata of the Alps” is an itinerary that united the entire Piedmont Alpine arch, to find our more,  click here
La discesa folle e vincente di Paolo Savoldelli al Giro 1999 QUI
Altri dettagli dell'ascesa qui

The legendary, winning descent of Paolo Savoldelli at the Giro d’Italia 1999 HERE

Further details of the ascent, here