Rocca dell'Abisso, Mountain summit at French-Italian border, France and Italy

Rocca dell'Abisso is a 2,755 m summit of the Maritime Alps on the main watershed between Italy and France, just west of the Col de Tende, where the Gesso, Vermenagna and Roya valleys meet. It is made of gneiss: pre-Triassic orthogneiss on the western side, Permian gneissic schists on the eastern side. The pale gray rock rises to a pointed top above dark ridges and green patches.

The first recorded ascent was made in 1832 by Lorenzo Pareto with an unnamed porter from Chiusa Pesio. The mountain sits at the junction of three valleys: Valle Gesso, Valle Vermenagna and Valle Roia. Near the normal route from Col di Tenda are fortifications dating from the end of the 19th century.

The name's origin is debated: some link it to the Italian "abisso" for the drop on the southwest face, which seems to fall toward the Peyrefique lakes, 400 m below; others derive it from "bise", the cold northern wind. At the summit cross stands a bronze statue of the Madonna Mediatrice di tutte le grazie.

The climb requires proper mountain gear and solid fitness due to steep terrain and unpredictable alpine weather conditions. Plan to start early in the day and bring plenty of water and food supplies.

The summit cross stands beside a bronze statue of the Madonna Mediatrice di tutte le grazie. The name may come from the abisso, the drop on the southwest side that seems to fall straight into the Peyrefique lakes, 400 m below and under 1 km away.