Monte Alben, Mountain in the Bergamasque Prealps, Lombardy, Italy

Monte Alben is a limestone massif in the Bergamasque Prealps reaching 2019 m between the Serina, Riso, Parina and Vertova valleys. Its northeast side has rocky spires and gullies, while wooded slopes and pastures lie to the southwest. The summit ridge includes Cima La Croce (1975 m) and Cima della Spada (1952 m).

The summit cross and the trails up Monte Alben are modern additions; the mountain's documented history is one of pastoral use, with the south route from Cornalba passing Pian delle Casere, where huts and a rainwater pool served livestock. The Maurizio via ferrata on the north face, leading to Cima La Croce, belongs to the era of equipped climbing routes. The endemic Primula albenensis was recognised as a species in 1993.

The summit cross stands on the main peak at 2019 m, above the Passo la Forca saddle that separates it from Cima La Croce (1975 m). The mountain's name is also carried by Primula albenensis, an endemic primrose recognized in 1993 and found only in the Bergamo area, flowering between April and June from about 1150 to 2000 m.

The shortest ascent starts at Zambla Pass (1264 m) and reaches the summit cross in about 2.5 hours, with a stretch of grade I rock scrambling along the ridge above Passo la Forca. From Cornalba (900 m) the trail crosses Pian delle Casere pasture in about 3 hours; from Vertova the CAI 530 route takes around 6 hours.

Primula albenensis was formally recognised as a species only in 1993 and is named after Monte Alben, the mountain where it was first found. It grows on these slopes between about 1,150 and 2,000 metres and flowers from April to June.