Mount Alben (2,019 m) located between the Brembana and Seriana valleys, has a roughly circular shape and is bordered by well-incised valleys and saddles that separate it from the surrounding reliefs. Geographical isolation and limited glaciation during the Quaternary had two main consequences on the plant and animal populations: first, ancient floras and faunas were preserved; second, isolation allowed the evolution of animal and plant species endemic to the massif. From a geological point of view, Monte Alben also presents extremely interesting characters: it is the only massif in the Bergamo Pre-Alps where it is possible to observe all the phases of formation and evolution of the Noric carbonate platforms, ancient coral reefs that 200 million years ago, in a subtropical sea, produced the sediments that make up the present-day rocks of Alben.
The mountain is also accessible in winter, but only to experienced hikers with appropriate equipment; during the winter season it is also advisable to contact the huts in advance to check if they are open.
