Monte Forato
Encyclopedia
Monte Forato is a mountain (1,230 m) in the Alpi Apuane
, in Tuscany
, central Italy
.
It is formed by two peaks of similar altitude, connected by a natural arch which has given the group its name (meaning "Holed Mountain" in Italian
). The hole, nearly circular in shape, has a height of c. 12 meters, while the arch itself is some 8 m thick. The arch can be seen from both Versilia
and Garfagnana
valleys at the two sides of the Monte Forato.
Looking from some spots, the arch creates an effect of double sunset (or dawn, like on 22 June from Volegno
), when the sun falls between the arch, soon reappering for a short while in the hole below.
Alpi Apuane
The Alpi Apuane are a mountain range in northern Tuscany, Italy, part of the Apennine Mountains. They are included between the valleys of the Serchio and Magra rivers, and, to north-west, the Garfagnana and Lunigiana...
, in Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
It is formed by two peaks of similar altitude, connected by a natural arch which has given the group its name (meaning "Holed Mountain" in Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
). The hole, nearly circular in shape, has a height of c. 12 meters, while the arch itself is some 8 m thick. The arch can be seen from both Versilia
Versilia
The Versilia is a part of Tuscany in the north-western province of Lucca, and is named after the Versilia river.Known for fashionable Riviera resorts, it consists of numerous clubs that are frequented by local celebrities....
and Garfagnana
Garfagnana
Garfagnana is an historical region of Italy, today part of the province of Lucca in the Apennines, in northwest Tuscany, but before the unification of Italy it belonged to the Duchy of Modena and Reggio, ruled by the Este family. For a short time, in the 16th century, it was governed by the poet...
valleys at the two sides of the Monte Forato.
Looking from some spots, the arch creates an effect of double sunset (or dawn, like on 22 June from Volegno
Volegno
Volegno is a hamlet in the province of Lucca, Tuscany, central Italy, administratively a frazione of the comune of Stazzema. Located at 450 m over the sea level in the Alpi Apuane Regional Park, it has some 50 inhabitants....
), when the sun falls between the arch, soon reappering for a short while in the hole below.