CLIMBING. 7 UNMISSABLE WALLS AROUND ITALY

Sport climbing finally made it to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics with 40 hardened climbers competing, arousing curiosity and enthusiasm among outdoor sport lovers.

Climbing is definitely a fascinating sport that involves body and mind, with opportunities to immerse yourself in nature and open spaces, experiencing breathtaking views.

It is fascinating but at the same time challenging. Much training and good advice is needed when starting to do climbing.

We talked about it in this article.

But once you have some experience and learned the right techniques, there is nothing better than going off to find the best walls, especially in early autumn.

In Italy, we are really spoilt for choice. Here are just a few:

1. Val di Mello – Lombardy

A nature reserve since 2009, the largest protected area of Lombardy. A green valley in the lower Valtellina, a real paradise for climbing granite. Alpine meadows, small inhabited villages, cool streams and imposing rock faces surrounded by majestic snowy peaks over 3000m high. One of these is Monte Disgrazia.

2. Valle dell’Orco – Piedmont

An unspoilt valley between the Levante massif and Gran Paradiso National Park. An unmissable location for those who love climbing on granite. Sergent, Caporal, the Noaschetta or Piantonetto Valley are the names of just some of the walls where many, predominantly traditional, lines run. The best time to climb in the Valle dell’Orco is between April and November.

3. Finale Ligure – Liguria

The magnificent walls of Finale Ligure, around 25 km from Savona, are known throughout Europe. In an area covering around 10 square km there are over 150 crags, which can be climbed all year round thanks to the mild climate and the particular exposure of the walls. The rock here is unique: limestone studded with holes, pockets and drops of water, vertical chimneys and crevices.

The best known include the Capo Noli crags, which stand sheer above the sea, where you can experience the thrill of climbing directly above the blue water.

4. Valle del Sarca – Trentino

This splendid valley extends between Arco and Sarche, in Trento province, following the River Sarca, which flows along the valley floor. More than 500 routes, for both mountain and sport climbing, climb the walls on the right-hand side of the valley. The climate is mild, as a result of nearby Lake Garda, which means that climbing is possible almost all year round and gives the valley a Mediterranean flavour.

5. Gran Sasso – Abruzzo

In the heart of Italy with its limestone walls, the Gran Sasso is a fascinating place that is still relatively unknown, where there are magnificent climbing routes. Corno Piccolo, Corno Grande, Paretone, Pizzo d’Intermesoli are just some of the sectors with routes from 200 to 1000m in length.

6. Palinuro – Campania

Capo Palinuro is a jewel of the Cilento National Park, in the southernmost part of Campania. The warm, red rock here is reflected in the sea: one of the best spots is the “Sleeping Giant”, overhanging the sea.

7. San Vito lo Capo – Sicily

Along the beautiful San Vito lo Capo beach, on Sicily’s west coach between Trapani and Palermo, there is a long rock face, with great sport climbing routes. They are primarily single-pitch climbs, ranging from easy to more challenging, overhanging climbs, which cross the red walls with pointed holds overlooking the sea. Don’t miss Calamancina crag, overlooking the bay of the same name.

 

Source: ecobnb.it