What is the highest peak in Italy?

We have already explored the highest peaks of countries in the Adria region several times, such as Dinara in Croatia and the ongoing dilemma between Bobotov Kuk and Zla Kolata in Montenegro. This time, we cross the border to the west and try to answer a similar question: what is the highest mountain in Italy?

At first glance, the answer to this question seems simple. Mont Blanc, or Monte Bianco as the Italians call it, with its 4,805 metres, is without a doubt the highest peak in the Alps and all of Western Europe. But as soon as one looks a little deeper into the map, and even into political documents, it becomes clear that the matter is not so straightforward. This is where Gran Paradiso enters the scene, a mountain that is somewhat lower but lies entirely within Italy. So, depending on how you frame the question, the highest mountain in Italy or the highest mountain located entirely within Italy, you will get different answers.

Gran Paradiso National Park, Lake Bellagarda, Photo: gattophotos Depositphotos

MONT BLANC – THE HIGHEST, BUT WHOSE?

Mont Blanc (4807 meters) dominates the French-Italian border and has been the subject of long-standing political and cartographic disputes. While French maps show that the entire summit lies within their borders, Italian maps claim the opposite, stating that the border runs directly over the summit itself. This dispute has lasted for decades and intensified in 2020 when local authorities in Chamonix, France, introduced ecological measures which, according to Italian claims, crossed the border and encroached on Italian territory. The European Parliament even received official complaints from Italy, accusing France of unilaterally claiming the summit.

From a mountaineering perspective, Mont Blanc is most often seen as a shared peak. Alpinists approach it from both sides, and many international expeditions treat it as the pinnacle of the two nations. However, when it comes to official statistical records, the situation is sensitive. Italy counts it as part of its territory, while France rejects that. In this context, the question of what is the highest mountain in Italy is no longer just a geographical one but also a political one.

Mont Blanc, Photo: rcaucino Depositphotos

GRAN PARADISO – THE ONLY “FULLY ITALIAN” FOUR-THOUSANDER

If we rephrase the question and ask which is the highest mountain located entirely within Italy, the answer becomes clear. It is Gran Paradiso, a mountain that reaches 4,061 metres, located in the region of Valle d’Aosta within the Gran Paradiso National Park. This peak is not only geographically and administratively in Italy, but it also holds significant cultural and natural importance. The park itself was established in 1922 and is the oldest national park in the country. It originated as a royal hunting reserve created to protect the Alpine ibex population, and today it is a beloved destination for hiking, nature, and photography enthusiasts.

Climbing Gran Paradiso is often described as the perfect first four-thousander for mountaineers. While it requires good physical fitness and basic knowledge of moving on snow and glaciers, it does not demand advanced technical climbing skills. The most common routes start from mountain huts such as Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II or Rifugio Chabod, and the climb is usually organized over two days, the first day to the hut, the second to the summit and back. At the very top, there is a well-known statue of the Madonna, and the view stretches across nearly the entire Western Alps.

Gran Paradiso, Photo: johny007pandp Depositphotos

TWO PEAKS, TWO STORIES

Mont Blanc and Gran Paradiso represent two different sides of the same question. One is higher, more grandiose, and better known, but it is divided between two countries and without clear confirmation of territorial ownership. The other is slightly lower, but entirely Italian, clearly defined, and without any political uncertainty. That is precisely why Italian mountaineering organizations, when referring to the highest mountain in Italy, often mention Gran Paradiso. It is, they say, the highest mountain that Italy does not share with anyone.

So, if you want to know which is the highest mountain you can visit in Italy that lies entirely on Italian soil, the answer is clear. And if you ask which is the highest mountain Italy considers its own, that would be Mont Blanc, provided you agree with their map. In the end, it all depends on perspective. Elevation is measured in metres, but borders are measured in agreements, negotiations, and history.