Monte Procinto, Mountain summit in Tuscany, Italy

Monte Procinto is a mountain in the Apuan Alps within the Province of Lucca, distinguished by its steep rocky walls and dramatic ridge formations. The peak displays distinctive limestone geology with rugged terrain and several prominent summits along its ridgeline.

Loggers first climbed Monte Procinto in 1848. From 1884 the Milanese engineer Aristide Bruni, a CAI member active at the Lucca alpine station, directed works using metal brackets and cables that in 1893 produced Italy's first via ferrata, emulating Austrian routes on the Hoher Dachstein (1843) and Grossglockner (1869). The CAI Florence section restored and secured the whole route in 2018.

The via ferrata on Monte Procinto was built between 1884 and 1893 under Aristide Bruni, a Milanese engineer and CAI member, making it the first via ferrata in Italy, after Austrian routes on the Hoher Dachstein (1843) and Grossglockner (1869). The work was largely funded by members of the CAI Florence section and the Lucca Alpine Station, and the whole route was restored and made safe by CAI Florence in 2018.

Access is from the meadows on the south side of Monte Nona near Albergo Alto Matanna, reachable by car from Lucca: a trail climbs to the Callare del Matanna pass, descends to the base of Monte Nona's vertical wall and traverses it to the Cintura del Procinto, where a small bridge leads to the via ferrata. Alternatively, ascend from Stazzema past the CAI Forte dei Marmi refuge. All summit routes except the southern via ferrata are for experienced climbers; the ferrata demands care and basic mountaineering knowledge.

The via ferrata on the south face was built between 1884 and 1893 under Aristide Bruni, a Milanese engineer and CAI member, making it the first via ferrata in Italy, after Austrian routes on the Hoher Dachstein (1843) and Grossglockner (1869). The whole route was restored and made safe by CAI Firenze in 2018.