Passo Del Monte Moro

The Monte Moro Pass is an Alpine pass located on the border between Switzerland and Italy. It connects Saas-Almagell in the Swiss canton of Valais to Macugnaga, Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, in the Italian region of Piedmont. The pass lies at the foot of Monte Moro.

Already known in Roman times, it had great importance over the centuries for communication between the Alpine valleys. The pass was also used for the movement of Walser populations from the Swiss valleys to the Italian valleys. In more recent times it has seen the passage of smugglers carrying goods between the two neighboring states.

In winter, the pass is frequented for its ski fields served not only by cable cars, but also by a two-seater chairlift and a ski lift. Near the pass on the Italian side is the Gaspare Oberto-Paolo Maroli Refuge. Near the pass there is the Emerald Lake.

It can be reached from Macugnaga via the Macugnaga-Bill-Passo Moro cable car and is included in the hiking route of the Monte Rosa Tour. If you choose to climb to the pass via a path, the pass can be reached from Macugnaga in about 4 hours. From the Swiss side it can be reached in about two hours of walking starting from Lake Mattmark which is located at the bottom of the Saastal.

The statue of Our Lady of the Snows was placed a few meters from the border between Italy and Switzerland and was inaugurated on August 5, 1966. It is the work of the sculptor Giuseppe Banda. The statue, about 5 meters high, portrays the Madonna in a slender form and with the sperada on her head.

From the arrival of the cable car, you first go up with a few steps to Lake Smeraldo and then through a partially equipped path you reach the statue of the Madonna.Read more