Mont Viso climbing (3'843m)

Monte Viso or Monviso is the highest mountain of the Cottian Alps. It is located in Italy close to the French border. Monte Viso is well known for its pyramid-like shape and, because it is higher than all its neighbouring peaks by about 500 m, it can be seen from a great distance, including from the Piedmontese plateau, the Langhe, the Theodulpass in the Zermatt ski area and the summits of the Mont Blanc massif. On a very clear day it can be seen from the spires of Milan Cathedral.

It has been suggested that Monte Viso could be one of the mountains which inspired the Paramount logo. In Italy it is also known as "Il Re di Pietra" ("The Stone King") because of its prominence within the western Italian Alps. It was declared a cross-border UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2013.

On the northern slopes of Monte Viso are the headwaters of the Po, the longest Italian river, the so-called Pian del Re (2,020 m). The Monviso group is surrounded by the Valle Po, Valle Varaita and, on the French side, the Guil valley. The northern sector of the group, from the Punta Gastaldi to the Col de la Traversette, is located on the French border.

Monte Viso is the location of a neolithic jadeite quarry, at an elevation of 2000 to 2400 metres. Its productivity peaked around 5000 BC. The jadeite was used to make cult axes, which are found all over western Europe. One such ceremonial axe head was found as far away as a small hill called Tristia in Western Ireland and is on display in the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Dublin.

In ancient times the mountain was known as Vesulus.

Monte Viso was climbed for the first time on August 30, 1861 by William Mathews, Frederick Jacomb, Jean-Baptiste Croz and Michel Croz. The first woman to summit the mountain was Alessandra Boarelli (1838 – 1908) on 16 August 1864.

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Musics :

Vivaldi – La Stravaganza Op.4 No.9 – Concerto in B Flat Major, RV 383a– I. Allegro – Europa Galante & Fabio Biondi © 2011 EMI Records

Vivaldi – L'Estro Armonico Op. 3 No 7 – Concerto in F Major, RV 567 – III. Allegro – L'Arte Dell'Arco & Federico Guglielmo © 2014 Brillant Classic

Vivaldi – La Stravaganza Op.4 No.9 – Concerto in B Flat Major, RV 383a – III. Allegro – Europa Galante © 2011 EMI Records