Roccia Nera, Peak in Pennine Alps, Switzerland and Italy

Roccia Nera is the easternmost summit of the Breithorn massif in the Pennine Alps, on the border between Italy's Aosta Valley and Switzerland's Valais. It reaches 4,075 metres. Its north and east faces are black rock emerging from the glaciers, while the west side, followed by the normal route, is snow-covered to the top. The Schwarztor pass (3,725 m) separates it from the Polluce.

The peak marks the easternmost point of the Breithorn massif and has served as a natural border dividing the Swiss region of Valais from Italy's Aosta Valley for centuries. Mountaineers from both sides recognized this location early as a key position for crossing Alpine routes.

The peak carries three official names: Roccia Nera in Italian, Roche noire in French and Schwarzfluh in German, all meaning black rock. The Schwarztor pass (3,725 m) on its east side, separating it from the Polluce, is the "Black Gate" of the same naming. The Italian face is watched over by the Bivacco Rossi e Volante, a bivouac hut on a rocky spur.

The best time to climb is during dry summer weeks when glacier conditions are stable and weather is favorable. Climbers should prepare for technical terrain and bring full mountaineering equipment, as conditions can change rapidly at this elevation.

The normal route follows the snowy west flank to the summit; the north and east faces instead show bare black rock emerging from the glaciers, which gave the peak its name. The Schwarztor pass, at 3,725 m, separates it from the Polluce. On the Italian side, the Rossi e Volante bivouac sits on a rocky spur.