Overview
The Sentiero Attrezzato Falcipieri on the 5 Cime del Pasubio is a long, engaging ridge route. While classed as moderate, it has a distinctly alpine character, defined by constant exposure and numerous sections of free climbing up to second grade, both on the ascent and descent. The itinerary combines the pleasure of moving over rock with significant historical interest, enhanced by the return along the famous Strada delle 52 Gallerie, built during the Great War.
Approach
The starting point is Bocchetta di Campiglia, in the province of Vicenza. From Rovereto or Schio, follow the SS46 to Ponte Verde, where you take the signed turnoff for the Strada delle 52 Gallerie. Drive about 5.5 km along the narrow road to Passo Xomo. Here, turn left following signs for Pasubio and continue for 1.5 km to the paid parking at Bocchetta di Campiglia (1220 m). The GPS coordinates are 45.778513, 11.228092.
Via Ferrata
From the parking, head toward the entrance of the Strada delle 52 Gallerie, then after a few minutes branch right onto trail marker 367 for the Sentiero Alpinistico Attrezzato delle 5 Cime. A short climb through the woods brings you to the start plaque of the Sentiero Attrezzato Falcipieri (15 minutes from the parking).
The route unfolds along a limestone ridge, alternating grassy trail sections with rock slabs and steps. You tackle the ridge following the first steel cable. The progression flows smoothly between trail sections, protected passages, and short free climbs. After an initial rocky step closed in between rocks, you encounter a chimney with a cable on the left and artificial holds on the right. Continue along the ridge, overcoming cracks and short protected descents, until you glimpse a tunnel of the road below. The path crosses a short natural tunnel then bends left onto a protected ledge. After rounding a corner to the right, you climb it with a pleasant, fairly vertical and exposed section near the top.
The pace is sustained and continuous, with few rest breaks. Resuming the ridge crest, you descend slightly toward a rocky bastion. Follow a ledge to the right, enter a slabby dihedral with a cable, and after climbing it, reach the base of a long metal ladder, known as the "Bovolo." Climbing the ladder ends with a short, slightly overhanging traverse to the right, equipped with stirrups. After overcoming this initially sparse foothold section, you gain a ledge. This is interrupted by a stepped wall with stirrups; climb it freely, then resume the ledge to the right, overcome a few steps, and arrive at a wider trail section that leads to the first summit: Bella Laita (1881 m, 1 hour 30 minutes from the start).
The route now becomes more airy, developing along a broad, panoramic ridge. Continue westward on a long ridge section, wide but exposed, with easy first-grade free climbing. After a few minutes, you face a critical section: an unprotected downclimb of about 15 meters. The moves are obvious but exposed, requiring maximum attention. Reaching a small saddle, climb up the opposite side in free climbing (Grade I) to regain the ridge and reach the second summit: Cima Cuaro (1939 m, 30 minutes from Bella Laita).
Leaving the summit, descend along the ridge. A short gully with a metal stirrup introduces a protected descent section, initially vertical then more stepped. A subsequent transfer leads to a protected descent on a slabby but friable wall. In the lower part, follow an exposed diagonal traverse before the final vertical meters that lead to Forcella Camossara (1875 m, 30 minutes from Cima Cuaro).
The ridge continues westward with easy, always exposed climbing. Move onto the ridge crest, alternating sides, following trail markers without protection, until cables reappear to climb a stepped rise. After bypassing a boulder on the left, ascend a gully and return to the ridge, heading toward Cima Forni Alti. The trail through the dwarf pines is interrupted only by a small step. The final climb of the ridge crest is the most airy part of the route, with exposed but not difficult passages, aided by wide stirrups. After the vertical section, you emerge onto the ridge, tackle partially protected rock steps and a short gully, then reach the anticima with a wooden cross and, shortly after, the metal cross of Cima Forni Alti (2023 m, 45 minutes from Forcella Camossara), the third summit conquered.
Past a commemorative plaque from the Great War, enter a tunnel that forks; take the left tunnel, following the white-red marks. Briefly exiting, descend a stepped protected section to a trail that leads into a second tunnel (no headlamp needed). Exiting, descend slightly to Passo di Fontana d'Oro (1875 m). Ignore the turnoff for the Strada delle 52 Gallerie (trail marker 366) and keep right toward Rifugio Papa (trail marker 369).
After a modest climb on trail and rocky steps, you encounter a first protected descent section, stepped and diagonal, to a small saddle. Continue on a narrow ledge to the left before the trail returns to the ridge, where steel cables reappear. Following the ridge, you reach the penultimate summit: Cimon del Soglio Rosso (2040 m, 1 hour from Forni Alti).
From here, the final objective is clear. Descend along the ridge to quickly climb the fifth and final summit: Cima dell'Osservatorio (2027 m, 15 minutes from Cimon del Soglio Rosso). After visiting the remains of a Great War observation post, descend via a steep trail to the Porte del Pasubio, where the itinerary ends at the Rifugio Generale Achille Papa (about 5 hours from the start, 5 hours 15 minutes total).
Descent
The return to Bocchetta di Campiglia is via the spectacular Strada delle 52 Gallerie (or Strada degli Eroi), an engineering feat from World War I that runs parallel to the ferrata route. A headlamp is essential. The trail, about 6.5 km long, snakes along the mountainside over steep precipices, passing through fifty-two tunnels of varying length (up to 370 meters) and shape-some dark, others partially lit by skylights. The descent, a unique historical and scenic experience, takes about 2 hours from the rifugio, for a total hike of around 7 hours and 30 minutes.
Useful Notes
The Sentiero Attrezzato Falcipieri is a ridge itinerary with moderate but continuous exposure. Although well-equipped, it maintains an alpine character and requires attention on the numerous free climbing sections, especially when the rock is wet. The equipment has been recently modernized and is in excellent condition.
It is essential to consider the possibility of afternoon fog, especially in the warmer months. Given the length of the route, it is advisable to plan to reach Rifugio Papa in the early afternoon to avoid traversing sections in poor visibility. There are no water sources between the start of the ferrata and the rifugio: you must bring ample water supplies.
For maps, refer to detailed maps of the Pasubio area.
