Col de Tende Up And Down “strade bianche”

Total of 970 meters ascent and descent from Panice Soprana(1400m)  to Cima Pepino (2200m) then down to Col de la Perle and up to Bric Campanino finally down towords Limone Piemonte until Baita Sole. By the way this is an amazing place full of history. It starts from Panice: where Napoleone first attempted to build a tunnel to make communications easier and not to use the pass of Tenda the attempt failed bcs too ambitious and expensive for that time (it was still visible the beginning of excavation both French and Italian side). A tunnel was built a lot after in the end of 1800, still in use now but it is always under repair bcs of water infiltration (the tunnel is long 1878 meter, so it is very long and in difficult geological area rich of water which makes always somehow its way through), in the French side of the tunnel in the beginning are still visible (not visit possible) the remain of the defence of the gallery that was armed with a guard post and heavy automatic machinegun. The Pass has two side one Italian one French. Before 1945 it was all Italian before 1815 borderline between Genoa Republic/Savoy duchy and after savoy kingdom and after 1860 Italian kingdom, the pass is like a wall at the end of a valley in which the river Roya runs it from north to south - and it is named the Roya Valley - this valley it has been active for commerce expecially salt (bcs salt was used to preserve food during winter) but it has also been a way for France to invade North Italy/Savoy kingdom like it has happened during Napoleonic wars at the end of XVIII sec. After the Wien Congress in fear of an invasion the Savoy Kings started to build an heavy defence system based on numerous fortresses: one central and more heavily armed and many more all around to protect it. The central fortress is on the top of the pass at about 1850 meters over the sea: it was armed with 10 cannons of big caliber (149ret if I remember properly) it was in used all the year long also winter, in summer additional cannons were located on the roof of the fortress (there are pictures about it). Looking from North to South On the left side of central fortress there are fortress Tabourda (about 1900 meters over the seas) and fortress Pepino (about 2300 meters over the sea) and you riding this video you ride all close to  this places and you can see Central Fort big infantry house, and Central Fort itself! (It is where my friend gave me water). On the right side there is Marghera fortress (1700 meter over the see), Pernante fortress (2000m) and Giaura fortress (about 2400). If you could look like a drone the positions of the fortresses you could see like they form a curved line similar to a Roman anfi theatre 🎭 where the actor would have been the invading army.  Curiosity: on the actual French side, which is not in this video at all,  starts the old road - it is very beautiful - to the pass and after a little there is the old post station 🚉 in perfect condition for its age (not to visit!) it is dated 1631 aC. (The year is written over its main door).