Cima della Lombarda, Mountain summit at France-Italy border, Maritime Alps.
Cima della Lombarda is a 2,800 m summit on the France-Italy border between Isola (Alpes-Maritimes) and Vinadio (Cuneo), in the Mercantour-Argentera massif. Its upper slopes are bare grey-brown rock and scree cut by dark ribs, with grass and low vegetation below and pale boulders scattered along the foot. A dark metal crucifix with a ring at the crossing and a figure of Christ stands on the top.
The summit lies on the border between the French commune of Isola, Alpes-Maritimes, and the Italian comune of Vinadio, Cuneo. The frontier is marked by numbered boundary stones, or bornes, along the ridge. The hiking route from Isola 2000 passes bornes 90a, 91, 92 and 93 before crossing into Italy at the 2,665 m Pas du Loup. A descent via the Col de la Lombarde (2,350 m) reaches borne 100.
At the summit stand a cross and a stone niche holding a statuette of the Madonna Mediatrice di tutte le grazie, the Marian title of Mary as mediator of all graces. The summit is reached by paths from Isola 2000 on the French side and from the Italian side, and the cross and niche are the destination markers for walkers and ski-mountaineers arriving from either country.
The summit is accessible from the French side near Isola 2000 resort or from the Italian side via the Terre Rosse valley, both offering established hiking routes. Hikers should come prepared with proper alpine gear and expect steep terrain throughout the climb.
The summit stands on the watershed line between the Tinée and the Stura di Demonte: rain falling on the French side drains toward the Tinée, on the Italian side toward the Stura. The Italian sources give the peak's topographic prominence as 142 m. A metal crucifix and a stone niche holding a Madonna Mediatrice statue stand on the summit.
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