Ferrata Fiamme Gialle alla Palazza Alta

Overview

The Ferrata Fiamme Gialle is a highly demanding alpine itinerary, unfolding across the severe southwest face of Palazza Alta in the Civetta Group. The route is defined by its considerable length and substantial physical exertion, earning an overall difficulty rating of "very difficult." It is therefore reserved exclusively for experienced hikers with excellent athletic conditioning and familiarity with sustained technical passages. The logistics of the descent, also long and taxing, require an early start at dawn or, alternatively, splitting the ascent over two days with an overnight stay in a mountain hut.

Approach

The starting point is the hamlet of Bastiani, above Cencenighe Agordino in the province of Belluno. From Cencenighe, heading toward Alleghe, take a steep ramp marked for Bastiani. The road ends in the village, where there is a small parking area. From the parking lot, follow the signs for the Ferrata Fiamme Gialle, ascending a forest trail that features two consecutive junctions: at both, keep left, heading toward the via ferrata. After exiting the woods, you reach another junction where you take the right fork for the ferrata, ignoring the turnoff for Sech. The trail then traverses diagonally at the base of the majestic limestone bastion-an approach that already hints at the route's character with exposed sections protected by handlines-until reaching the start of the via ferrata in about an hour. Though just the approach, this stretch demands attention due to its ledge-like terrain, offering the first views of the wall's compact structure.

Via Ferrata

The itinerary unfolds in four main sections, interspersed with short equipped trail segments that provide a break from the vertical effort. The first section sets the tone immediately: compact rock and vertical development. It begins with a six-meter step, then traverses right and commits to a long slab climb, often requiring active pulling on the cable. After a long traverse to the right and mixed passages, this first stretch concludes in about thirty minutes. A short equipped trail leads to the second section, which features a different morphology, with well-shaped slabs and ledges that allow for smoother, more enjoyable climbing, taking advantage of the excellent dolomite quality typical of Civetta. You ascend to a small notch and, with a brief traverse to the right, finish this part an hour and a half from the start. The environment here is more open, with the ferrata unfolding across a broad band of the wall, offering a sustained but less extreme pace.

Another trail segment leads to the third section, which restores a more technical character with a vertical, demanding slab that bends left. Continue on slab, execute a traverse to the right, and tackle an exposed and difficult ridge with scarce holds, then overcome a final vertical slab and a horizontal traverse before the exit. A trail leads to a fork: to the right, an easy route to the summit; to the left, the fourth section, very difficult. This final part represents the technical heart of the itinerary. It begins with a challenging diagonal traverse to the right toward a ridge, which is ascended in strong exposure. You then find yourself beneath a long and difficult dihedral with minimal holds-a passage requiring continuous use of the cable and seeking footholds in a wide stance. The final moves present a steep wall with better holds, leading at last to the summit of Palazza Alta at 2255 meters. The pace in this last section is discontinuous and deliberate, with pure climbing passages on smooth rock that demand careful reading of the structure. The total time for the via ferrata is approximately three hours and thirty minutes.

Descent

From the summit begins the long and demanding return phase. Descending eastward, you reach a clear marked junction. From here, three options are available. The first, which we recommend, is the long return via the Col Mandro Bivouac, which allows you to complete the loop without needing a second car. At the junction, take the right fork onto trail CAI 562 for "Vazzoler." The trail descends steadily to a junction where you keep left, staying on the 562, with stunning views of Torre Venezia. Continue to Sella Pelsa (1954 m, 1h30' from the ferrata). From here, follow trail 567 to Forcella di Col Madro, with breathtaking panoramas of the Civetta, then begin a long descent that skirts the north faces of Col Mandro on exposed ledges protected by cables. Reach the Col Mandro Bivouac (1844 m, 45' from Sella Pelsa) and continue on the 567, a trail that is at times exposed with a short vertical drop equipped with three stirrups. Arrive at the hamlet of Colaz and, following the paved road, climb back to Bastiani and the parking lot in about nine hours total. The second option is to continue to the Rifugio Vazzoler and descend via a wide gravel road to Capanna Trieste, where you need a car parked. The third option, currently not recommended, is to follow the "Sech" sign at the junction, which descends a steep gully with outdated equipment and unroped downclimbing passages of Grade II, in a complex and very demanding environment.

Useful Notes

The Ferrata Fiamme Gialle is a route of high difficulty, reaching the full "very difficult" grade in the fourth section. The rock, extremely compact and polished, forces climbing that requires careful reading, with numerous Grade III and IV passages, and some in the final section approaching Grade V. Using climbing shoes can significantly aid progression. Even the connecting trails are physically demanding due to their steepness; it's advisable to use them to recover energy before the final, decisive stretch. Built in 1980, this via ferrata is considered a classic of the Belluno Dolomites for its essential equipment, excellent rock, and the pure mountaineering satisfaction it offers, representing a route where technical commitment merges with a severe and panoramic environment.