Mangart - Via Italiana
Duration: 2:45 to 4h
Difficulty: Via Ferrata C/D
Elevation: 516m
Well equiped via ferrata up the north wall of Mangart. You can expect exposed sections and splendid views not only on Fusine lakes.
Starting point: Drive from Bovec towards Predel and once you get through Strmec village and over the bridge, turn right towards Mangrtsko Sedlo. In a while you'll have to pay toll (about 5 EUR a car) and drive all the way to a one-way loop on the top. Park on the highest possible spot where the paths start.
Description: From the car take the most significant path towards Mangart. Before the wall of Mali Mangart turn left towards Via Italiana, Bivouac Nogara, Laghi di Fusine. After you get over the pass, you'll have a great view on north/Italian side. Walk down towards bivouac Nogara and little above it (check the map below) you can find a shortcut which will take you straight to the beginning of Via Italiana. If you miss the shortcut and get to bivouac, follow the path slowly ascending towards the wall. Via ferrata is well equiped and gets vertical few times. Once you finish the climb, you can either take the path to the right and be by car in 20 minutes (as on map below), or turn left and follow the path to the top of Mangart (Via Normala, Italska smer) or take another via ferrata Via Slovenia to the top. Descending via any of Mangart's via ferratas is NOT RECOMMENDED!