| Monte Viso | |
|---|---|
 Monviso seen from the Col de Chamoussiere (FR). | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,841 m (12,602 ft) |
| Prominence | 2,062 m (6,765 ft) Ranked 10th in the Alps |
| Listing | Ultra Alpine mountains above 3000 m |
| Coordinates | 44°40′03″N 07°05′30″E / 44.66750°N 7.09167°E |
| Geography | |
  Monte Viso Alps | |
| Location | Piedmont, Italy |
| Parent range | Cottian Alps |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | August 30, 1861 by William Mathews and Frederic Jacomb with guide Michel Croz |
| Easiest route | South Face scramble |
Monte Viso or Monviso (Italian pronunciation: [moɱˈviːzo]; Occitan: Vísol; Piedmontese: Brich Monviso or Viso) is the highest mountain of the Cottian Alps. It is located in Italy close to the French border. Monte Viso is well known for its pyramid-like shape. Because it is higher than all its neighbouring peaks by about 500 m, it can be seen from a great distance, including from the Piedmontese plateau, the Langhe, the Theodulpass in the Zermatt ski area, the col du Galibier and the summits of the Mont Blanc massif. On a very clear day, it can be seen from the spires of Milan Cathedral.[citation needed]
It has been suggested that Monte Viso could be one of the mountains which inspired the Paramount logo.[citation needed] In Italy it is also known as Il Re di Pietra ("The Stone King") because of its prominence within the western Italian Alps. It was declared a cross-border UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2013. The longest river of Italy, River Po, is born at the mountain's foot.