Raticosa pass explained

Raticosa pass
Other Name:Italian: Passo della Raticosa, Radicosa Pass, Italian: Passo Radicosa, Italian: Passo di Radicosa
Location:Firenzuola
Range:Apennines
Map:Italy
Elevation M:968
Label:Raticosa pass
Coordinates:44.1728°N 11.3383°W
Traversed:Strada Statale 65

The Raticosa pass (Italian: Passo della Raticosa) is a mountain pass in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines with an elevation of 968m (3,176feet) above sea level.[1] It is located close to the small town of Pietramala in the municipality of Firenzuola, which forms part of the Metropolitan City of Florence (Tuscany).[2] Surrounding peaks include the Canda hill (901 m), (1158 m), (1264 m), and (1290 m), the source of the Idice, a river that runs into Emilia-Romagna where it feeds the Reno.

The Raticosa is traversed by the strada statale (SS) at a point about 12 km north of the Futa pass. Before the advent of the Autostrada del Sole in 1964, the Italian: strada della Futa – as the road is commonly known in Italian – was for two centuries the main thoroughfare connecting Florence and Bologna. 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 Emperor Francis I, following his investiture in 1739.[3] Until it opened, the ascent to the Raticosa had been prohibitively steep, and the two cities had been poorly connected by the (heading in the direction of Imola).[3] 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.[3] Although the economic benefits for Tuscany turned out to be less favorable than expected, it remained for many years one of two principal thoroughfares connecting central Italy with the Po Valley.[3]

Towards the end of World War II, the stretch of the road around the Futa and Raticosa passes became a focus of heavy fighting.[4] As part of their advance towards northern Italy in 1944, the Allies were determined to penetrate through the Futa and Raticosa passes, which had been identified as one of the two most vulnerable zones of the Gothic Line in the upper Apennines (the other being the Giogo pass).[5]

The Raticosa featured prominently[6] in many editions of the Mille Miglia open-road motorsport endurance race (1927–1957). Since 1977, the pass has marked the finish line for the Bologna-Raticosa time trial, a competition for classic cars, which by 2024 had reached its thirty-fifth edition.[7]

Road cycling races have been held along the Bologna-Raticosa route since 1931.[8] [9] The pass also provides a popular climb for cyclists more generally.[10] The Raticosa also features in hiking trails around Pietramala.[11] Motorcyclists often meet up at the pass, where they frequent the 'chalet' bar.[1]

See also

Notes and references

References

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Passo della Raticosa . www.bolognawelcome.com . Bologna-Modena Tourist Territory . https://web.archive.org/web/20240305163347/https://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/places/parks-and-gardens/passo-della-raticosa-2 . 5 March 2024 . en . live.
  2. Web site: Passo della Raticosa, Firenzuola, Province of Florence, Toscana, Italy . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230311161804/https://www.mindat.org/feature-3169571.html . March 11, 2023 . . en.
  3. Web site: Romby . Giuseppina Carly . 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 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240310141822/https://cultura.ilfilo.net/dal-giogo-alla-futa-la-rivoluzione-stradale-delleta-lorenese-in-mugello/ . 10 March 2024 . it-IT . 1 March 2018 . live.
  4. Web site: Pelle . Maria Loredana . La Strada Statale N.65 nella Linea Gotica. Settembre 1944 . The Strada Statale 65 in the Gothic Line. September 1944 . iris.unisalento.it . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240306124741/https://iris.unisalento.it/handle/11587/449142?mode=simple . 6 March 2024 . it . live . dissertation . 2019 . 9788867606894.
  5. Book: Du Picq . Ardant . Greely . John N . Cotton . Robert C . https://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-MTO-Cassino/USA-MTO-Cassino-17.html . https://web.archive.org/web/20220624221505/https://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-MTO-Cassino/USA-MTO-Cassino-17.html . 24 June 2022 . 1987 . live . Battle Studies . Part Five - The Gothic Line Offensive; Chapter XVII - Planning for the Offensive.
  6. Web site: Facconi . Attilio . Novantaquattro anni oggi: parte la 1a Mille Miglia . Ninety-four years ago today: the first Mille Miglia gets underway . www.automobilismodepoca.it . https://web.archive.org/web/20210520203113/https://www.automobilismodepoca.it/23532 . 20 May 2021 . 2021 . live . it.
  7. Web site: 4 March 2024 . 4 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240304161743/https://www.velocitaraticosa.it/la-storia/origini/ . Origini . Origins . www.velocitaraticosa.it . it.
  8. Web site: Bologna-Passo della Raticosa . www.museociclismo.it . Museo del Ciclismo Associazione Culturale ONLUS . 6 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240306105431/https://www.museociclismo.it/content/corse/corsa/64650-Bologna-Raticosa/index.html . 6 March 2024 . it . live.
  9. Web site: Bologna - Passo della Raticosa . www.cyclingarchives.com . Cycling Archives . 6 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240306103544/http://www.cyclingarchives.com/wedstrijdfiche.php?wedstrijdid=28956 . 6 March 2024 . en . live.
  10. Web site: Santoni . Carlo . Passo della Raticosa . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231204231515/https://www.mugellotoscana.it/en/itinerari/in-bici/qmugello-in-bikeq-cycle-tour-area/le-magnifiche-10-salite-dellappennino/2-passo-della-raticosa.html . December 4, 2023 . 2023-03-11 . www.mugellotoscana.it . Ufficio Turismo del Mugello . en-gb.
  11. Web site: Escursionismo . Hiking . pietramala.org . 8 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240308182213/https://pietramala.org/escursionismo/ . 8 March 2024 . it-IT . live.

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