Numerous fortifications connected by a net of mule tracks, which allow visiting the natural beauties of the mountains hosting silent the works of art of wartime, were built on the Italian - French border during the second half of the nineteenth-century. This itinerary due to its length is developed in four stages with the alternative route starting from Upega.

Itinerary I STAGE

From the Certosa di Pesio (859 m) you reach Pian delle Gorre (1.032 m); then you climb on the left along the itinerary that leads to the Refuge Garelli and you reach Saut; proceed on the right for the Passo del Duca. You arrive at Gias degli Arpi (1.435 m 7,5 km, fountain). From here the ground is more stony and sloping. From the colle del Prel (1.925 m), panoramic site follow the now very flowing original route, leaving the stretches that cannot be climbed by bicycle, which cut the path. You reach the  Passo del Duca, at an altitude of 1.989 m (9 km from the Pian delle Gorre). The natural continuation of the path brings you within 2,5 km of a technical path stretch towards Gias dell'Ortica (fountain, 1.855 m). Follow the path marked in the north of the hut, climb after further 3,5 km and 364 m of difference in level the Colla Piana di Malaberga, (Hut Morgantini), at an altitude of 2.219 m. From here you reach Limone going down the road.  

II STAGE

Proceed on the military road reaching the altitude of 2.290 m and then go slowly down till Passo di Flamalgal, where the grey and heavy limestone changes in a luxuriant green basin; a descending stretch leads after the Colle di Selle Vecchie (2.098 m), into the larches woods of "delle Navette". Alternating open stretches and meadows to the typical larches woods you reach after Costa Ventosa, then the Valley of Tanarello, finally Margaria Loxe (1.893 m); climb on the right to the Passo di Tanarello (2.045 m 20 km) and from here go down towards Passo Collardente (1.617 m 26 km). Then proceed on the left (or on the right) going up till Bassa di Sanson and then on the left towards Cima di Marta. Go down in front of the mountains Grai, Valletta, Pietravecchia and Toraggio, till Colla Melosa (Refuge F.Allavena 1.540 m) after a total of 42 km and 760 m difference in level.

III STAGE

Proceed backwards the itinerary stretch till Bassa di Sanson (12 km), from here on the left going down towards La Brigue, in the Roja Valley, after having passed the beautiful chapel of the Notre Dame des Fontaines, where you then proceed on the left till La Brigue. From here you reach S.Dalmas de Tende in 2 km. Proceed criss-crossing the road for the tunnel of the Colle di Tenda, on the left and then on the right climbing after 300 m to Casterino. You'll reach the Lac des Mesches and the plain of Casterino. You can see some very important ruprestrian engravings in the Valley of the Meraviglie at the entry of the Parc National du Mercantour (total of 48 km and1.510 m of difference in level).

IV STAGE

From Casterino proceed on the difficult unsurfaced road which brings you to Basse de Peyrefique (7 km 2.020 m), touching the sides of the Rocca dell'Abisso. After having passed the fortifications and pastures, you'll reach Colle di Tenda (1.971 m 14 km). Now proceed towards north-east in slightly descent and reach a junction after some hundred meters. Then proceed on the right crossing the Central Fortress and follow the road on the northern side which is linked with the military road Limone-Monesi. Do the descent of Bric Campanino reaching Col and Gias della Perla, the Col della Boaria and then climb till the deviation to the Hut Morgantini and finish with the Colla Piana di Malabergue.

Alternative route: START FROM UPEGA

The tour of the Fortresses can also be carried out with start from the Tanaro valley near Upega. You climb towards the Colletta delle Salse after some ten metres from the disconnection near the bridge Giaireto, (equipped area), proceed on the right abandoning the asphalted road. After 2,7 km vehicular road among larches you reach the road Limone-Monesi, at the Costa Pian dei Termi. From here you proceed on the left following the itinerary of the second described stage which start from Don Barbera al Colle dei Signori and reaches Colla Melosa. Leaving from Upega you add 500 m of difference in level compared to the above mentioned stage, keeping unchanged the distance of 42 km.

Route

I STAGE 26 Km - 1500 m of difference in level PIAN DELLE GORRE 1000 m - PASSO DEL DUCA 1.989 m - GIAS DEL

II STAGE 42 Km - 760 m of difference in level REFUGE DON BARBERA - PASSO FLAMALGAL 2200 m - MARGARIA LOXE 1.800 m - PASSO TANARELLO 2200 m COLLARDENTE - COLLA MELOSA, REFUGE CAI ALLAVENA 1540 m

III STAGE 48 Km - 1510 m of difference in level (2200 m of difference in level with alternative route from Tenda) COLLA MELOSA, REFUGE CAI ALLAVENA BALCONE DI MARTA 2.090 m - S.DALMAS DE TENDE 780 m CASTERINO 1.670 m

IV STAGE 44 Km - 900 m of difference in level CASTERINO - BASSE DE PEYREFIQUE 2.020 m COLLE DI TENDA 1830 m - CAP. MORGANTINI 2.220 m GIAS DEL

Technical card

•  TRAVELLING TIME 4 days
•  DIFFICULTY difficult
•  DIFFERENCE IN LEVEL 4670 m
•  STARTING HEIGHT 1000 m Pian delle Gorre - 1290 m Upega
•  MAXIMUM HEIGHT 2290 m
•  PERIOD summer
•  START Pian delle Gorre (Pesio Valley) Upega (Tanaro Valley)