Ferrata la Farina del Diavolo

Overview

Inaugurated in 2019, the Via Ferrata "La Farina del Diavolo" is a modern route that takes on a compact, polished wall. The line unfolds beside the Radime waterfall-among the tallest in Europe, though often dry-making use of a smooth rock surface with few significant natural holds. This morphology demands constant use of the steel cable for nearly the entire climb, giving the ascent a continuous and pronounced exposure. The route connects the area behind the cemetery of Villa Santina (363 m) with the hamlet of Lauco (710 m), offering a predominantly vertical and technical experience.

Approach

Access to the via ferrata starts from the area behind the cemetery of Villa Santina, in the province of Udine. Coming from Tolmezzo along the SS 52 Carnica, the cemetery is clearly visible on the right before entering the town. Parking is available nearby. From the Amaro exit on the A23 motorway, follow signs for Tolmezzo and then Villa Santina, covering about 15 kilometers in 20 minutes by car. The approach on foot begins behind the cemetery: a short, easy forest trail leads in about ten minutes to the start sign of the Ferrata La Farina del Diavolo, positioned at the base of the wall.

Via Ferrata

The ascent opens with a short ladder on vertical rock, called the "welcome ladder," which immediately introduces the technical character of the route. After a slight deviation to the right, the line bends left onto a grassy ledge, which serves as a prelude to a long diagonal traverse to the left. This first section, which develops on an oblique band of the wall, is well-equipped and offers some natural holds, making it pleasant and not demanding. Once the traverse is completed, the line becomes decidedly more vertical, but remains manageable thanks to a dense succession of metal stirrups. This leads to a vertical rock spur that is particularly scenic, which leads to the access of a suspension bridge. Crossing the bridge to the left allows you to reach a panoramic viewpoint, an optional detour from the main line.

Resuming the progression toward a group of trees, you tackle a very airy and spectacular traverse, which runs along a narrow ledge and is perhaps the most rewarding passage of the entire route. This is followed by a new vertical section with closely spaced rock steps, leading to an artificial ledge with a wooden walkway, a rhythmic variation that offers a moment of relative rest. The route continues with a short vertical climb and a horizontal passage through a narrow cleft between two rocks, concluding with a final vertical ascent that is excellently equipped and leads to the summit book. A last rocky spur marks the end of the via ferrata. The indicative times are 1 hour and 50 minutes from the parking lot, of which 1 hour and 35 minutes are net progression on the via ferrata.

Descent

Immediately after the summit, there are signs for the direct return to Villa Santina, a steep trail through the woods. Alternatively, you can continue on foot toward the characteristic village of Lauco and from there follow the marked path, which with a gentler and more scenic route leads back to the starting cemetery. This second return option takes about 30 minutes of walking, bringing the total time of the excursion to about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Useful Notes

The Via Ferrata La Farina del Diavolo is an interesting and well-equipped route (sometimes with an abundance of anchor points), ideal for a half-day activity. Its technical and continuous character, on polished rock, makes it excellent training for more challenging via ferratas at high altitude. Being south-facing and at low altitude, it is not recommended during the summer months to avoid excessive temperatures. Its position at the entrance to Carnia makes it a great starting point for exploring other via ferratas in the area.