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Passo Sella

The Passo Sella (IT-BZ-2213 IT-BZ-2244) first appears on an IGM map at altitude 2213m, see below. Note that this pass is not on the main road but on a track, which was probably tarmacked in 2006.

Finally, on more recent maps (such as Multigraphic, see below), the Passo Sella at 2213m is abandoned in favour of Passo Sella at 2244m, which was previously only the highest point on the route.
Here's an example of a sliding neck.

The same map shows «col de Toi». Here «col» means «summit» (a bit like some of our «collets»). There are several on this map (Col Rodela, Col de Salei, etc.). The only pass that has ever been named is «Sella di Col de Toi». The name appears in an Italian catalogue but there is no known reference.

To sum up, we have :

- A pass corresponding to an old passage at the lowest point (the GR655 marks this passage),
- A recent pass of the same name, born of the omnipotence of road traffic on the new road which passes at 2244m,
- An unreferenced pass.

But how many Passo Sella are there? One or two?

Modern« maps show only one pass at 2244m (Passo Sella). Should we forget the old pass at 2213m, which is certainly much more »authentic«?

As these two passes are located on the same east-west ridge, we can say that they are not really two different passes.

The «new» Passo Sella is nothing more than the «old» Passo Sella, which has moved over time. So it's not really an additional pass - one has replaced the other.

So there are several possible attitudes:

- To be attached to the history of a pass and consider that its authenticity comes from the ancestral use that people have made of it. In this case, Passo Sella is at 2213m.

- Consider that history and heritage are constantly evolving and that a pass can therefore be moved to a neighbouring road, which corresponds to the modern use of this passage. In this case «Passo Sella» is at 2244m.

- Consider that there are two different passes, albeit with the same name, which means that there is an additional pass above 2000m.

The catalogue of passes in north-east Italy, which is the reference for the Club des Cent Cols, clearly indicates the two passes (and their history). So how many Passo Sella? That's a matter of personal judgement and ethics, and we don't take the liberty of asserting ONE truth.

René Poty