Giau Pass

Giau Pass (Passo di Giau)

Giau Pass, or Passo Giau, is one of the most spectacular high mountain passes in the Italian Dolomites. Rising to 2,236 meters (7,336 feet) in the province of Belluno, Veneto, the pass connects the Cortina d’Ampezzo area with Colle Santa Lucia, Selva di Cadore, and Val Fiorentina.

Few road-accessible places in the Dolomites offer such an expansive mountain panorama. The distinctive blade of Ra Gusela rises immediately above the pass, backed by Nuvolau and Averau. On clear days the view extends toward Marmolada, Monte Civetta, Tofana di Rozes, Tofana di Mezzo, Cristallo, Sorapiss, Antelao, and Piz Boè.

Giau Pass is much more than a scenic road. It is a major trailhead for the Nuvolau, Averau, Cinque Torri, Croda da Lago, and Mondeval landscapes; a celebrated climb of the Giro d’Italia; a gateway onto Alta Via 1; and the site of a centuries-old boundary dispute preserved today in the remains of the Muraglia del Giau.

The pass also sits beside one of the most geologically and archaeologically fascinating landscapes in the Dolomites. The neighboring Mondeval plateau contains the approximately 7,500-year-old burial known as the Mondeval Man, while the Pelmo–Croda da Lago UNESCO system preserves an exceptionally readable record of Triassic seas, volcanism, tectonic deformation, and glaciation.

⚡ Fast Facts

Feature	Details
Name	Giau Pass
Italian name	Passo Giau / Passo di Giau
Ladin names	Jof de Giau / local variants
Country	Italy
Region	Veneto
Province	Belluno
Mountain range	Dolomites / The Alps
Elevation	2,236 m / 7,336 ft
Coordinates	Approx. 46.4825° N, 12.0537° E
Road	SP 638
Connects	Cortina d’Ampezzo with Colle Santa Lucia and Selva di Cadore
Eastern approach	Cortina d’Ampezzo / Pocol
Western approach	Selva di Cadore
Western cycling climb	Approx. 10.1 km
Western elevation gain	Approx. 922 m
Western average gradient	Approx. 9.1%
Maximum gradient	Approx. 16%
Hairpin bends	29 on the Selva di Cadore side
Nearest prominent rock feature	Ra Gusela
Nearby summit	Nuvolau, approx. 2,575 m
Nearby summit	Averau, approx. 2,649 m
Nearby mountain	Tofana di Rozes
Nearby major summit	Marmolada
Nearby major massif	Monte Civetta
Nearby high mountain	Antelao
UNESCO landscape	Pelmo–Croda da Lago / Dolomites World Heritage Site
Long-distance trail	Alta Via delle Dolomiti No. 1
Major hiking route	Nuvolau–Averau loop
Major historic destination	Mondeval
Nearby archaeological site	Mondeval Man burial
Historic boundary feature	Muraglia del Giau
Boundary dispute documented from	1331
Giau Wall constructed	1753
World War I role	Part of the Italian defensive system
Giro d’Italia debut	1973
Famous Giro climb	2021 Egan Bernal attack
2026 Giro status	Cima Coppi
Known for	Panoramic views, cycling, hiking, photography, geology and alpine meadows

The standard elevation is 2,236 meters. A few modern publications give 2,233 meters, while one Giro climb page currently displays 2,305 meters; local tourism information, maps, geographic databases, and other Giro material consistently support approximately 2,236 meters.

📍 Where Is Giau Pass?

Giau Pass lies southwest of Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Belluno Dolomites.

On the eastern side, the road descends toward Pocol and eventually Cortina.

On the western side, it drops through Fedare toward Selva di Cadore, providing access to Val Fiorentina and Colle Santa Lucia.

The geography places the pass between two contrasting mountain landscapes.

To the north rise Ra Gusela, Nuvolau, and Averau.

To the southeast stretch the Lastoi de Formin and Croda da Lago landscape.

Beyond them, the horizon contains some of the greatest mountains in northeastern Italy.

The pass itself occupies a broad grassy saddle rather than a narrow rocky notch, giving visitors unusually open views in almost every direction.

Winter morning landscape of Passo Giau, Dolomites, Italy | Marten House

📏 How High Is Giau Pass?

The accepted elevation is:

2,236 meters / 7,336 feet

This makes Giau one of the higher major paved road passes of the Dolomites.

The elevation is high enough that the landscape is predominantly alpine meadow and exposed mountain terrain rather than continuous forest.

Snow may linger late into spring, and fresh snow can return surprisingly early in autumn.

The altitude also makes weather substantially cooler and windier than in Cortina or Selva di Cadore below.

🌄 One of the Great Dolomite Panoramas

The greatest attraction of Giau Pass is the panorama.

Very little effort is required to experience it because the paved road reaches the saddle itself.

Immediately above the pass stands Ra Gusela, a distinctive narrow blade of rock belonging to the Nuvolau landscape.

Beyond it rise Nuvolau and Averau.

Looking toward the wider horizon can reveal Marmolada, the highest summit in the Dolomites; Monte Civetta; the Sella group around Piz Boè; and the Pale di San Martino.

Toward Cortina, the skyline includes Tofana di Rozes, Tofana di Mezzo, Cristallo, Sorapiss, and Antelao. Official Dolomite tourism sources consistently highlight the pass as one of the great panoramic viewpoints of the range.

🪨 Ra Gusela

The most recognizable mountain feature at the pass is Ra Gusela, sometimes called Gusela del Nuvolau.

Its narrow, upright form appears almost like a giant stone needle rising directly from the meadows.

Depending on the precise summit point used, local route information places Ra Gusela at approximately 2,595 meters.

Its shape makes it the visual symbol of Giau Pass.

Many of the classic photographs associated with Passo Giau are actually compositions centered on Ra Gusela, with the pass road and meadows in the foreground.

🏔️ Nuvolau

Behind Ra Gusela rises Nuvolau, approximately 2,575 meters high.

The summit is particularly notable because Rifugio Nuvolau stands directly on its crest.

The refuge opened in 1883, making it the first mountain refuge built in the Cortina d’Ampezzo area.

From Giau Pass, Nuvolau can be reached on a network of hiking paths and an easy protected route over Ra Gusela.

The summit provides a nearly 360-degree panorama.

From such a relatively modest summit, the view includes an extraordinary concentration of famous Dolomite mountains.

🏔️ Averau

Averau rises immediately northwest of Nuvolau to approximately 2,649 meters.

Its block-like summit is higher than Nuvolau and Ra Gusela.

Rifugio Averau stands at the nearby Forcella Nuvolau, roughly 2,416 meters above sea level.

A relatively short via ferrata allows experienced hikers with appropriate equipment to reach Averau’s summit.

The mountain also stands above the famous Cinque Torri, one of the best-known rock-climbing and World War I landscapes around Cortina.

Together, Averau, Nuvolau, and Ra Gusela create the mountain architecture that defines the northern side of Giau Pass.

🪨 Geology of Giau Pass

Giau Pass lies within a remarkably varied geological landscape.

The nearby Pelmo–Croda da Lago UNESCO system preserves roughly 100 million years of geological history with unusual continuity.

The most striking characteristic around Giau is the contrast between hard carbonate mountains and softer rolling saddles.

Massive limestone and dolomite form cliffs such as:

Croda da Lago
Lastoi de Formin
Monte Cernera
Nuvolau-area rock towers

Softer clay-rich and volcanic formations underlie many of the grassy saddles and rounded landscapes around Passo Giau and Forcella Giau.

That geological contrast explains why vertical towers can stand immediately beside broad green meadows.

🌊 Ancient Triassic Seas

More than 200 million years ago, this part of Italy looked completely different.

The modern Dolomites did not exist.

Instead, warm seas covered the region.

Carbonate platforms developed in shallow water while deeper basins accumulated different sediments.

Marine organisms contributed carbonate material that eventually became limestone and dolomite.

As environmental conditions changed, new layers accumulated above the old ones.

Today, erosion has cut through those ancient deposits, exposing a three-dimensional record of the vanished Triassic world.

🌋 Ancient Volcanism

The Giau landscape also preserves evidence of Triassic volcanic activity.

Volcanic rocks occur among the sedimentary formations in the Pelmo–Croda da Lago system.

These softer rocks erode differently from the massive carbonate cliffs.

Over millions of years, that differential erosion helped create the characteristic pattern of:

Sharp rock walls
Flat-topped slabs
Broad grassy saddles
Rounded valleys
Isolated towers

Passo Giau and Forcella Giau are specifically highlighted in UNESCO geological material as examples of gentler landforms carved into softer clay-rich and volcanic rocks.

🌎 Formation of the Dolomites

The ancient marine rocks were eventually caught in the tectonic processes that built the Alps.

Compression uplifted the strata thousands of meters.

Faults and fractures cut through the rock.

Once the new mountains stood above sea level, erosion began removing material.

Rivers carved valleys.

Rain entered fractures.

Freeze-thaw cycles broke apart cliffs.

Glaciers later deepened valleys and excavated broad basins.

The open Giau saddle exists because geology and erosion removed softer rocks more efficiently than the resistant peaks surrounding it.

🧊 Ice Age Glaciers

Glaciers profoundly shaped the Giau and Mondeval landscape during the Pleistocene.

The nearby Mondeval plateaus retain:

Moraines
Glacial erratics
Rock-glacier features
Frost-created landforms

UNESCO dates some late-glacial moraines in the Mondeval area to approximately 15,000–12,000 years ago.

Large moving glaciers transported boulders that originated elsewhere and left them stranded when the ice melted.

One such glacial landscape later became the setting for one of the most significant prehistoric discoveries in the Dolomites.

🏹 The Mondeval Man

Beyond Forcella Giau lies the broad Mondeval de Sora plateau.

Here archaeologists discovered the burial of a Mesolithic hunter who lived roughly 7,500 years ago.

The burial is often known as the Mondeval Man.

The individual was about 40 years old.

Grave goods found with him included flint tools, worked antler objects, and perforated deer teeth.

The discovery is remarkable partly because intact Mesolithic burials at such altitude are extremely unusual.

The skeleton and associated finds are preserved at the Vittorino Cazzetta Museum in Selva di Cadore.

🥾 Hiking to Mondeval

Giau Pass provides one of the easiest gateways into Mondeval.

Trail 436 crosses the meadow from the pass and climbs toward Forcella Giau, at approximately 2,360 meters.

Beyond the saddle, the landscape opens onto the Mondeval plateau beneath the Lastoi de Formin.

Cortina’s official Mondeval and Lago Federa itinerary covers approximately:

12.1 km
4 hours 15 minutes
338 m of ascent
954 m of descent

The route continues through Forcella Ambrizzola to Lago Federa and Croda da Lago.

🥾 Nuvolau–Averau Loop

The opposite side of the pass provides an outstanding circuit around Nuvolau.

One official route begins and ends at Passo Giau and covers approximately:

8 kilometers

with:

448 meters of elevation gain

The circuit uses Trail 443 toward Cinque Torri, continues toward Rifugio Scoiattoli and Rifugio Averau, and then returns beneath Nuvolau on Trails 464 and 452.

The route combines some of the best-known landscapes around Cortina without requiring a major summit climb.

🧗 Via Ferrata Ra Gusela

Giau Pass is also the starting point for the Via Ferrata Ra Gusela.

Cortina classifies the route as an easy via ferrata.

The circuit takes approximately:

3 hours
420 meters of ascent
420 meters of descent

It leads through protected rock terrain toward Rifugio Nuvolau.

A short side trip can reach the top of Ra Gusela itself.

Although rated easy by via ferrata standards, the route still requires proper equipment and experience with exposed mountain terrain.

🥾 Rifugio Nuvolau Circuit

A longer hiking circuit from Giau Pass reaches Rifugio Nuvolau by way of Cinque Torri and Averau.

Cortina currently gives approximately:

9.8 km
5 hours
612 m of ascent and descent
Experienced-hiker difficulty

The itinerary provides an outstanding introduction to the landscape surrounding Giau without attempting one of the more technical summits.

🥾 Alta Via No. 1

Giau Pass lies directly on or immediately beside Alta Via delle Dolomiti No. 1, one of the classic long-distance routes through the Dolomites.

The Alta Via travels from the Lago di Braies area toward Belluno, linking famous mountain groups, high passes, and refuges.

Around Giau, trekkers travel through the Croda da Lago, Mondeval, and Nuvolau landscapes.

Cortina’s Stage 5 description places the pass at 2,236 meters before the route continues toward Forcella Giau and the surrounding highlands.

🚗 The Road Over Giau Pass

The modern road crossing Giau is SP 638.

It connects the Cortina side with Selva di Cadore and Val Fiorentina.

The western side is particularly dramatic.

From Selva di Cadore, the road climbs through dense forest before emerging into high alpine meadow near Fedare.

The upper portion provides increasingly broad views of the surrounding mountains.

Twenty-nine hairpin bends create the distinctive road pattern for which the pass is famous.

🚴 Cycling From Selva di Cadore

The western ascent from Selva di Cadore is one of the classic cycling climbs of the Dolomites.

Official regional tourism figures give approximately:

Cycling Statistic	Figure
Starting point	Selva di Cadore
Start elevation	1,354 m
Finish elevation	2,236 m
Distance	10.1 km
Elevation gain	922 m
Average gradient	9.1%
Maximum gradient	Nearly 16%
Hairpins	29

The climb offers remarkably little sustained recovery.

That combination of gradient, elevation, and continuous climbing explains why Giau has earned such a formidable reputation among cyclists.

🚴 The Cortina Approach

The approach from Cortina is longer when measured from the town center.

Cortina’s official road-cycling itineraries describe approximately 15 kilometers of climbing and hairpin bends between Cortina and Passo Giau.

The steepest continuous climbing begins after Pocol.

This side lacks the famous sequence of 29 numbered bends found toward Selva di Cadore, but it is still a demanding ascent.

The reward is an increasingly expansive view toward the Nuvolau and Croda da Lago landscapes.

🚴 Giau Pass and the Giro d’Italia

Passo Giau has become one of the legendary climbs of the Giro d’Italia.

The race first crossed it in 1973, during the Andalo–Auronzo di Cadore stage. Spanish climbing specialist José Manuel Fuente won that stage.

The pass became increasingly important in later editions.

Its combination of high altitude and sustained gradient makes it particularly effective late in difficult Dolomite stages, where small differences in strength can become decisive.

🌧️ Egan Bernal and the 2021 Giro

One of the most memorable recent episodes occurred during the 2021 Giro d’Italia.

Race leader Egan Bernal attacked on the Giau during cold, wet mountain conditions.

He separated himself from his major rivals and strengthened his hold on the pink jersey.

The performance became one of the defining images of Bernal’s eventual overall victory.

That day further strengthened Giau’s reputation as one of the Giro’s decisive high-mountain climbs.

🏆 Cima Coppi in 2026

Giau returned to an especially important role in 2026, when it was designated the Cima Coppi, the highest point crossed by that year’s Giro.

The May 29 queen stage traveled from Feltre to Alleghe through an extraordinary succession of Dolomite climbs.

Official Giro documentation identified Giau as the Cima Coppi for the fourth time, following previous distinctions in 1973, 2011, and 2021.

Few mountain passes have such a strong connection between scenic tourism and elite road cycling.

🚴 Maratona dles Dolomites

Passo Giau also forms one of the most demanding sections of the Maratona dles Dolomites, the famous amateur cycling event held each summer.

For many recreational riders, Giau is the defining challenge of the long route.

By the time cyclists reach the climb, significant distance and elevation gain are already in their legs.

The western ascent’s sustained gradient then provides little opportunity to recover.

Completing Giau has therefore become a personal milestone for cyclists from around the world.

📜 Centuries of Conflict Over the Giau Meadows

Long before cyclists and tourists arrived, the open meadows around Giau were extremely valuable grazing land.

The communities of San Vito di Cadore and Ampezzo disputed rights to these pastures for centuries.

The first known written document concerning the conflict dates to 1331.

A notary at that time recognized San Vito’s claim to the Giau basin and established boundary points.

The conflict nevertheless continued.

After Cortina passed into Habsburg territory in 1511, what had been a local pasture dispute acquired an international dimension.

🧱 The Muraglia del Giau

The conflict eventually produced one of the most unusual historic structures in the Dolomites.

In the eighteenth century, authorities ruled that San Vito could continue using the disputed pastures—but only if the community built a stone barrier to prevent livestock wandering onto Ampezzo land.

The result was the Muraglia del Giau, or Giau Wall.

The approximately two-kilometer dry-stone barrier was ordered in the early 1750s and completed in 1753 under an extraordinarily short deadline.

Cortina’s historical interpretation records specifications of roughly six feet high, five feet wide at the base, and two feet wide at the top.

🗺️ An International Border

The Giau Wall later became more than a livestock boundary.

Because Cortina belonged to the Habsburg world while Cadore belonged to the Republic of Venice, part of the line functioned as an international frontier.

Boundary markers carried symbols associated with both political powers.

Remains of the wall and old markers can still be found around the Giau–Formin landscape.

The boundary remained politically significant into the modern era, and portions of the old line continued to mark a state frontier until the changes following World War I.

⚔️ Giau Pass During World War I

Giau Pass also became part of the military landscape during World War I.

Cortina’s historical information describes the pass as part of the Italian defensive system.

Nearby positions included Nuvolau, Monte Pore, Cinque Torri, and the ridges overlooking Col di Lana.

Roads and tracks were used to move artillery and supplies.

Trenches and military foundations remain visible in parts of the landscape today.

The surviving remains provide a quieter counterpart to the far more dramatic tunnels and battlefields around Tofana di Rozes.

🪖 Trail of the Trenches

Visitors interested in this wartime history can explore the Trail of the Trenches in the Averau area.

Cortina describes the route as approximately:

2.6 kilometers
1 hour 10 minutes
Medium difficulty

The walk passes surviving Italian military positions.

Combined with Cinque Torri, Lagazuoi, and the Tofane, Giau belongs to one of the richest collections of accessible high-altitude World War I remains in Europe.

🌍 The Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site

The scenery around Giau forms part of the larger Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage landscape.

The pass lies beside the Pelmo–Croda da Lago system, the first of the nine component systems forming the World Heritage property.

This component covers approximately 4,344 hectares entirely within Belluno province.

The area is internationally important because its extraordinary diversity of landforms reflects geology with unusual clarity.

Hard carbonate cliffs alternate with green saddles developed in softer volcanic and clay-rich rocks.

Giau pass seen from Averau summit, Dolomite Alps, Italy

🌿 Alpine Meadows

One of Giau’s defining characteristics is its enormous expanse of high alpine meadow.

In early and midsummer, these meadows can contain abundant flowering plants.

Grasses and sedges dominate much of the ground cover, while a variety of specialized Alpine flowers occupy suitable slopes and wetter areas.

The meadows have been used for livestock grazing for centuries.

That traditional pastoral use explains much of the historical conflict between neighboring communities.

Cattle and horses remain characteristic sights during the summer season.

🐐 Flora and Fauna

The wider Giau landscape supports wildlife typical of the high Dolomites.

Marmots inhabit suitable grassy slopes.

Chamois use rocky terrain and cliff margins.

Golden eagles range over the surrounding highlands.

Alpine choughs are common around ridges and mountain huts.

Lower elevations provide habitat for roe deer and other forest animals.

Wildlife becomes easier to spot during quieter periods of the day, particularly away from the road and heavily used trails.

🐿️ Marmots

The broad meadows around Mondeval and other quiet high basins provide excellent marmot habitat.

Marmots live in burrow systems beneath alpine grassland.

During summer they spend much of their time feeding in preparation for winter hibernation.

Their loud warning whistles often reveal their presence before the animals themselves become visible.

Visitors should observe them from a distance rather than approaching burrows.

🦅 Golden Eagles

Golden eagles inhabit the broader Belluno Dolomites.

The combination of cliffs and open grasslands provides suitable hunting habitat.

Thermal air rising from sunlit slopes allows the birds to soar efficiently above the mountains.

The vast views from Giau make the pass an excellent place to scan the sky for large raptors.

Alpine choughs are considerably more common and may gather around heavily visited viewpoints.

🌄 Sunrise and Sunset

Giau Pass is one of the classic sunrise and sunset locations in the Dolomites.

The road-accessible position makes it unusually easy to reach before dawn or remain after evening light.

At sunrise, light often reaches Ra Gusela, Nuvolau, and the eastern horizon first.

During evening, Marmolada, the Tofane, and other western or southwestern peaks can catch the last light.

Changing weather and cloud cover make every visit different.

🌸 Enrosadira

The Dolomite phenomenon known as enrosadira can be especially beautiful around Giau.

Low-angle light interacts with the pale carbonate rock, transforming cliffs through shades of yellow, orange, rose, and red.

Ra Gusela makes an especially dramatic subject because its isolated wall catches light while the surrounding meadow may already be in shadow.

The colorful effect helps explain why Giau has become one of the most photographed mountain passes in Europe.

❄️ Giau Pass in Winter

Winter transforms the pass completely.

Summer’s green meadows disappear beneath snow.

Strong winds can create deep drifts, while avalanche danger affects portions of the surrounding slopes and road approaches.

Snowshoeing, ski touring, and snowkiting are among the winter activities associated with the area.

Road conditions can change rapidly after storms.

Anyone planning a winter crossing should check current official traffic and weather information rather than assuming the pass will always be open.

🌩️ Mountain Weather

Even in summer, Passo Giau is a high mountain environment.

Conditions can change quickly.

Potential hazards include:

Thunderstorms
Lightning
Strong wind
Heavy rain
Fog
Sudden temperature drops
Hail
Early or late-season snow

The open pass provides little natural protection.

Weather that feels comfortable in Cortina can be much colder and windier at 2,236 meters.

Hikers heading into Nuvolau or Mondeval should carry clothing appropriate for rapidly changing conditions.

🚗 Driving Safety

The road is fully paved but should be treated with respect.

Important concerns include:

Sharp hairpin bends
Cyclists
Motorcycles
Tourist traffic
Livestock
Fog
Wet pavement
Snow and ice
Limited visibility around bends

Drivers should avoid cutting corners because cyclists and motorcycles may be approaching from the opposite direction.

The long descent can also overheat brakes if drivers rely on constant heavy braking rather than using an appropriate lower gear.

🚴 Cycling Safety

Cyclists face additional challenges.

The western ascent is steep enough that fatigue can become significant.

The descent requires careful speed control through 29 bends.

Weather at the summit may be dramatically colder than conditions at the start of the climb.

A light jacket or wind layer can make an enormous difference during the descent.

Cyclists should also remember that Giau remains an active public road rather than a closed cycling course outside organized events.

🏔️ Giau Pass and Tofana di Rozes

Tofana di Rozes rises northeast of the pass to 3,225 meters.

Its immense layered south wall is one of the dominant features of the Cortina skyline.

From Giau, Rozes appears across the Cinque Torri and Averau landscape.

The mountain’s great horizontal bands contrast with the narrow blade of Ra Gusela immediately beside the pass.

Both places also preserve World War I history, although the tunnels and battle positions of Rozes are much more extensive.

🏔️ Giau Pass and Tofana di Mezzo

Tofana di Mezzo reaches approximately 3,244 meters, making it the highest summit immediately surrounding Cortina.

It is visible from numerous viewpoints around Giau.

The contrast in accessibility is striking.

A cable car reaches close to the summit of Tofana di Mezzo.

Giau Pass itself can be reached by road.

Together, they make it possible to experience remarkably high Dolomite terrain without completing a technical mountaineering route.

🏔️ Giau Pass and Cristallo

Cristallo rises northeast across the Cortina basin.

Its highest summit reaches approximately 3,221 meters.

From Giau Pass, the massif appears as a jagged collection of towers rather than one simple peak.

Cristallo’s architecture contrasts beautifully with the broader Tofane and the plateaus around Croda da Lago.

The pass’s open horizon makes these differences in mountain form particularly easy to appreciate.

🏔️ Giau Pass and Sorapiss

Sorapiss rises east-southeast of Cortina to approximately 3,205 meters.

Its complex massif encloses glaciers and the famous Lago di Sorapis.

From Giau, Sorapiss forms part of the layered eastern skyline.

The two landscapes are connected through the broader network of hiking routes surrounding Cortina, but the character is different.

Giau is dominated by open meadow.

Sorapiss is dominated by towering walls, glacial basins, and deeply cut valleys.

🏔️ Giau Pass and Antelao

Antelao reaches 3,264 meters, making it the second-highest mountain in the Dolomites.

Its isolated pyramidal form makes it easy to recognize from many viewpoints around Giau.

Known as the King of the Dolomites, Antelao dominates Cadore southeast of Cortina.

Its enormous individual profile contrasts with the clustered towers immediately surrounding Giau Pass.

🏔️ Giau Pass and Marmolada

Marmolada rises southwest to 3,343 meters, the highest point in the Dolomites.

The broad glacier-covered mountain is visible from many points around Giau.

Its white northern slopes create a striking contrast with the green pass meadows in summer.

For cyclists, Giau and Marmolada also belong to the same legendary central Dolomite road landscape, connected through a network of passes used repeatedly by professional races and recreational cycling events.

🏔️ Giau Pass and Monte Civetta

Monte Civetta rises south-southwest to approximately 3,220 meters.

Its enormous northwest wall is one of the greatest rock faces in the Dolomites.

Giau provides a useful gateway between the Cortina landscape and the valleys leading toward Civetta.

The two areas can be linked by road through Selva di Cadore and the surrounding Agordino region.

🏔️ Giau Pass and Piz Boè

Piz Boè stands westward in the Sella group and reaches approximately 3,152 meters.

The flat-topped mass of the Sella looks very different from the individual towers around Giau.

On clear days, the broad central Dolomite panorama allows visitors to compare these different mountain forms across a single horizon.

Passo Giau with famous Ra Gusela, Nuvolau peaks in the background, Dolomites, Italy

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How high is Giau Pass?

Giau Pass is approximately 2,236 meters (7,336 feet) above sea level.

Where is Giau Pass?

It lies in Belluno province in the Italian Dolomites, southwest of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

What does Giau Pass connect?

The road connects the Cortina d’Ampezzo area with Colle Santa Lucia, Selva di Cadore, and Val Fiorentina.

What road crosses Giau Pass?

The pass is crossed by SP 638.

How many hairpins are on Giau Pass?

The Selva di Cadore side contains 29 hairpin bends.

How hard is the cycling climb?

From Selva di Cadore, the climb is approximately 10.1 kilometers at a 9.1% average gradient, with sections approaching 16%.

Has Giau Pass been used in the Giro d’Italia?

Yes.

It debuted in 1973 and has since become one of the race’s famous Dolomite climbs.

It was also the Cima Coppi of the 2026 Giro d’Italia.

Can you hike from Giau Pass?

Yes.

Major destinations include Nuvolau, Averau, Cinque Torri, Mondeval, Forcella Giau, Croda da Lago, and Lago Federa.

Does Alta Via 1 cross Giau Pass?

Yes. Giau is part of the classic Alta Via delle Dolomiti No. 1 landscape.

What is the Muraglia del Giau?

The Muraglia del Giau is an eighteenth-century dry-stone boundary wall built after centuries of disputes between San Vito di Cadore and Ampezzo over high grazing land.

What is the Mondeval Man?

The Mondeval Man is the approximately 7,500-year-old burial of a Mesolithic hunter discovered on the nearby Mondeval plateau.

What is the most recognizable mountain at Giau Pass?

Ra Gusela, the narrow rock blade rising directly above the pass, is its most iconic nearby feature.

🌄 Why Giau Pass Stands Out

Giau Pass combines an extraordinary amount of Dolomite history and landscape within one road-accessible saddle.

At 2,236 meters, it is already high enough to sit almost entirely within the alpine zone. Vast meadows stretch beneath rock towers while some of the highest mountains in the Dolomites fill the horizon.

The geology explains much of that beauty.

Hard Triassic carbonate rocks form Nuvolau, Ra Gusela, Croda da Lago, and surrounding walls, while softer clay-rich and volcanic formations have been sculpted into the green saddles and rolling meadows around the pass.

Glaciers added another layer, leaving moraines, erratics, and the broad high landscape around Mondeval.

Humans have used this terrain for thousands of years.

A Mesolithic hunter was buried at Mondeval roughly 7,500 years ago. Medieval communities later fought for control of Giau’s valuable grazing meadows. Their dispute eventually produced the Muraglia del Giau, a remarkable dry-stone boundary wall that once helped separate Habsburg territory from the lands of Venice.

World War I transformed nearby ridges into defensive positions.

Then the modern road brought another kind of history.

Passo Giau became one of the defining climbs of Italian cycling. Its 29 hairpins, 9%-plus western gradient, and altitude have produced memorable Giro d’Italia battles, including Egan Bernal’s famous attack in 2021 and another Cima Coppi designation in 2026.

Yet no hike, bike race, historical story, or geological statistic entirely explains Giau’s appeal.

The pass is memorable because the landscape is immediate. Step out beside the road and Ra Gusela rises directly overhead. Walk a little farther and Nuvolau, Averau, Mondeval, and Croda da Lago open around you. Look toward the horizon and Marmolada, Monte Civetta, the Tofane, Cristallo, Sorapiss, and Antelao appear across an enormous arc of sky.

For anyone exploring the mountains of Italy, Giau Pass is one of the finest places to experience the Dolomites in a single landscape—a meeting point of Triassic geology, alpine meadows, prehistoric archaeology, centuries-old boundaries, wartime history, legendary cycling, exceptional hiking, and one of the greatest mountain panoramas in Europe.

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