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Raticosa pass

Coordinates:44°10′22″N11°20′18″E/ 44.17278°N 11.33833°E/44.17278; 11.33833
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Raticosa pass
Passo della Raticosa,Radicosa Pass,Passo Radicosa,Passo di Radicosa[1]
The Raticosa Pass and the nearby town of Pietramala seen from Monte Beni
Elevation968 m (3,176 ft)
Traversed byStrada Statale65
LocationFirenzuola
RangeApennines
Coordinates44°10′22″N11°20′18″E/ 44.17278°N 11.33833°E/44.17278; 11.33833
Raticosa pass is located in Italy
Raticosa pass
Raticosa pass
Location of the Raticosa pass in Italy

TheRaticosa pass(Italian:Passo della Raticosa) is amountain passin the Tuscan-EmilianApennineswith anelevationof 968 m (3,176 ft)above sea level.[2]It is located close to the small town of Pietramala[3]in the municipality ofFirenzuola,which forms part of theMetropolitan City of Florence(Tuscany).[1]Surrounding peaks include the Canda hill (901 m),Mount Canda[it](1158 m),Mount Beni[it](1264 m), andMount Oggioli[it](1290 m), the source of theIdice,a river that runs intoEmilia-Romagnawhere it feeds theReno.

The Raticosa is traversed by thestrada statale(SS)65[it]at a point about 12 km north of theFuta pass.Before the advent of theAutostrada del Solein 1964, thestrada della Futa– as the road is commonly known in Italian – was for two centuries the main thoroughfare connectingFlorenceandBologna.[3]Fully viable from 1762, it was a key component of a major road-building project initiated and overseen by the new Grand Duke of Tuscany, the Holy Roman EmperorFrancis I,following his investiture in 1739.[4]Until it opened, the ascent to the Raticosa had been prohibitively steep, and the two cities had been poorly connected by theGiogo pass[it](heading in the direction ofImola).[4]The new road, which was capable of carrying wheeled vehicles, cut the journey time by horseback or mule from 2–3 days to a single day.[4]Although the economic benefits for Tuscany turned out to be less favorable than expected, it remained for many years one of two principal thoroughfares connectingcentral Italywith thePo Valley.[4][n 1]

Towards the end ofWorld War II,the stretch of the road around the Futa and Raticosa passes became a focus of heavy fighting.[5]As part of their advance towards northern Italy in 1944, theAllieswere determined to penetrate through the Futa and Raticosa passes, which had been identified as one of the two most vulnerable zones of theGothic Linein the upper Apennines (the other being the Giogo pass).[6]

The Raticosa featured prominently[7]in many editions of theMille Migliaopen-road motorsport endurance race (1927–1957). Since 1977, the pass has marked the finish line for the Bologna-Raticosatime trial,a competition forclassic cars,which by 2024 had reached its thirty-fifth edition.[8]

Road cycling raceshave been held along the Bologna-Raticosa route since 1931.[9][10]The pass also provides a popularclimbfor cyclists more generally.[3]The Raticosa also features inhikingtrails around Pietramala.[11]Motorcyclists often meet up at the pass, where they frequent the 'chalet' bar.[2]

Gallery[edit]

  • A public bus crossing the Raticosa pass in the 1920s.
    A public bus crossing the Raticosa pass in the 1920s.
  • The eventual winners of the 1927 Mille Miglia crossing the Raticosa.[7]
    The eventualwinnersof the 1927 Mille Miglia crossing the Raticosa.[7]
  • The 1931 Mille Miglia at the Raticosa.
    The 1931 Mille Miglia at the Raticosa.
  • Map showing the planned Allied assault on the Gothic Line in 1944: one of the two main spearheads through the upper Apennines was along the SS 65 towards the Futa and 'Radicosa' passes in the direction of Bologna.[6]
    Map showing the planned Allied assault on theGothic Linein 1944: one of the two main spearheads through the upper Apennines was along the SS 65 towards theFutaand 'Radicosa' passes in the direction of Bologna.[6]
  • Motorcycles parked alongside the 'chalet' bar.
    Motorcycles parked alongside the 'chalet' bar.

See also[edit]

Notes and references[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^The other through road was the viaXimenianafromPistoiatoModenaviaAbetone;SS 66[it]).[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"Passo della Raticosa, Firenzuola, Province of Florence, Toscana, Italy".Mindat.org.Archivedfrom the original on March 11, 2023.
  2. ^ab"Passo della Raticosa".bolognawelcome.Bologna-Modena Tourist Territory.Archivedfrom the original on 5 March 2024.
  3. ^abcSantoni, Carlo."Passo della Raticosa".mugellotoscana.it.Ufficio Turismo del Mugello.Archivedfrom the original on December 4, 2023.Retrieved2023-03-11.
  4. ^abcdeRomby, Giuseppina Carly (1 March 2018)."Dal Giogo alla Futa: la 'rivoluzione' stradale dell'età lorenese in Mugello"[From the Giogo to the Futa: the road network 'revolution' of the Lorraine era in Mugello].Il Filo del Mugello(in Italian).Archivedfrom the original on 10 March 2024.
  5. ^Pelle, Maria Loredana (2019)."La Strada Statale N.65 nella Linea Gotica. Settembre 1944"[The Strada Statale 65 in the Gothic Line. September 1944].iris.unisalento.it(dissertation) (in Italian).University of Salento.ISBN9788867606894.Archivedfrom the original on 6 March 2024.
  6. ^abDu Picq, Ardant."Part Five - The Gothic Line Offensive; Chapter XVII - Planning for the Offensive".In Greely, John N; Cotton, Robert C (eds.).Battle Studies.Archivedfrom the original on 24 June 2022.
  7. ^abFacconi, Attilio (2021)."Novantaquattro anni oggi: parte la 1aMille Miglia "[Ninety-four years ago today: the firstMille Migliagets underway].automobilismodepoca.it(in Italian).Archivedfrom the original on 20 May 2021.
  8. ^"Origini"[Origins].velocitaraticosa.it(in Italian). Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2024.Retrieved4 March2024.
  9. ^"Bologna-Passo della Raticosa".museociclismo.it(in Italian). Museo del Ciclismo Associazione Culturale ONLUS.Archivedfrom the original on 6 March 2024.Retrieved6 March2024.
  10. ^"Bologna - Passo della Raticosa".cyclingarchives.Cycling Archives.Archivedfrom the original on 6 March 2024.Retrieved6 March2024.
  11. ^"Escursionismo"[Hiking].pietramala.org(in Italian).Archivedfrom the original on 8 March 2024.Retrieved8 March2024.

External links[edit]

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