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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.

En résumé nous avons :

- 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.

Mais combien existe-t-il de Passo Sella ? Un ou deux ?

Les cartes « modernes » ne font apparaître qu’un seul col à 2244m (Passo Sella). Faut-il oublier l’ancien col à 2213m qui est certainement beaucoup plus « authentique » ?

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.

On peut donc avoir plusieurs 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.

Le catalogue des cols du nord-est de l’Italie, qui est la référence du Club des Cent Cols, indique bien les deux passages (et leur histoire). Alors combien de Passo Sella ? C’est une question d’appréciation et d’éthique personnelle et nous ne nous permettons pas d’affirmer UNE vérité.

René Poty