Corno alle Scale, Mountain summit in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
Corno alle Scale is a 1,945-metre summit of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines in the municipality of Lizzano in Belvedere, the highest point of the metropolitan city of Bologna. Its northern wall is a series of rocky steps, which gives the mountain its name. The massif has three peaks: Punta Sofia (1,939 m), the central Corno alle Scale (1,945 m) and Punta Giorgina (1,927 m).
The mountain range took on its present geological structure during the last ice age, forming a large cirque with neighboring peaks Monte Cornaccio and Il Cupolino. This formation continues to define the landscape of the region today.
The slopes of Corno alle Scale served as the training ground for Italian Olympic skier Alberto Tomba during his early career development.
The only drivable road is provincial road 71 "del Cavone", which climbs from Vidiciatico up the Dardagna valley and ends past the Cavone refuge at about 1,500 m, near the lifts. The mountain can also be reached from the Modena and Pistoia sides. The exposed Balzi dell'Ora route is signposted for experienced hikers only.
The mountain has three summits, not two: Punta Sofia (1,939 m) carries a 15-metre metal cross and is often mistaken for the main top, while Punta Giorgina (1,927 m) is the least visited but marks the watershed of three drainage basins. The true summit, Corno alle Scale at 1,945 m, is the triangulation point of Italy's geodetic network, as a marker on site documents.
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