Roads of Italy

In the heart of southern Europe, Italy stands tall as a country intricately woven with roads that are emblematic of its rich tapestry of history, unparalleled artistry, and nature's raw, untouched grandeur. To traverse Italy's roads is to embark upon an odyssey that tells tales from epochs gone by and teases with visions of scenic wonders.

Start the journey with the iconic Stelvio Pass, a masterpiece of engineering often hailed as Europe's ultimate driving challenge. As your wheels glide through its countless turns, you're granted front-row seats to the theatre of the Alps, where snow-capped peaks converse with azure skies. Next, set course for the Amalfi Coast Road, a mesmerizing stretch where the Tyrrhenian Sea's sapphire waves play hide and seek with quaint coastal hamlets, reminiscent of postcard-perfect landscapes.

The Strada della Forra, with its cinematic allure, paints a canvas of dramatic gorges and tunnels, forever etched in memories by James Bond's escapades. The towering Gavia Pass, on the other hand, is a silent ode to the majesty of the Italian Alps. As if that isn't enough, the San Boldo Pass astonishes with its intricate dance of 18 hairpin bends and five tunnels, each narrating tales of human ingenuity. Then, in the midst of these giants, the Splügen Pass offers another layer of Alpine wonder, beckoning travelers with its mix of verdant landscapes and historical charm.

Every road in Italy is not just a means of commute; it's a passage through time, a trail of legends, and a gallery of Earth's masterpieces. And as you journey through these pathways, you are not just covering distances; you're collecting tales, imbibing culture, and weaving memories of a lifetime.

Stelvio Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.757m (9,045ft) above the sea level, located in northern Italy. It's one of the highest roads of Europe. The road itself is a marvel of engineering skill; the exhilarating serpentine sections ask to be driven by experienced drivers for their own sakes. All in all, this could be the most magnificent road pass in Europe. 

The popular Amalfi Coast route follows the shoreline from Sorrento south to Salerno, in Italy. Locals recommend planning a drive of the Amalfi Coast during the shoulder tourist seasons, mid-September to October and May, when the road is less crowded and lumbering tour buses are fewer. It's one of the best coastal drives in the world. Picturesque Amalfi has been featured in films for as long as cameras have rolled at 24 frames per second.

Strada della Forra is one of the most scenic drives in the world. This Italian road burrows its way through the mountain in the ravine formed by the river Brasa. A small car with a functioning horn is recommended. For skilled drivers only. The drive is known by motorcyclists from all over Europe, as it is impressive and not exactly without danger in a few narrow and steep spots.

Strada delle 52 Gallerie (Road of 52 Galleries) is a military trail built during World War I on the massif of Pasubio in Italy. The track was constructed in this position to stay away from Austro-Hungarian artillery fire, with its pinnacles, deep canyons, and sheer rock faces.

Passo di San Boldo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 712m (2,335ft) above sea level, located in the province of Treviso, in Italy. The road to the summit is an engineering masterpiece with 18 hairpin turns and 6 tunnels. It’s one of the famous hairpinned roads in the world.

Splügen Pass is an international high mountain pass, at an elevation of 2,121m (6,958ft) above sea level, located on the border of Switzerland and Italy. Hairpins and great views make this one to see and drive. It's one of the highest paved roads in the Alps.

Passo di Gavia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,627m (8,618ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between the provinces of Sondrio and Brescia in the region of Lombardy, in Italy. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Forcella Lavardet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,547m (5,075ft) above sea level, located in the province of Belluno, in the Italian region of Veneto. The climb features 14 sharp hairpin turns that seem to lie on one another, gradually climbing up to the top of the pass. It’s one of the most famous hairpinned roads in the world.

Strada dell'Assietta is a military carriageway along the ridge that connects Pian dell’Alpe to Sestriere, in the Province of Torino, in northern Piemonte, Italy.

Monte Jafferau is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,805m (9,202ft) above sea level, located in the Piedmont region of Italy. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Colle del Nivolet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.621m (8,599ft) above sea level, located in the northern part of Italy. It’s featured in The Italian Job film; the final bus crash scene probably being the most famous. It's one of the highest roads in Italy.

Via del Sale, also known as Route du Marguareis, Piste de l'Amitié, and Ligurische Grenzkammstrasse, is a legendary 4x4 road nestled in the heart of the Ligurian Alps in the northern part of Italy.

Scanuppia-Malga Palazzo is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.571m (5,154ft) above sea level, located in Trentino, Italy. The road is brutally steep.

Located in southern Europe, Italy is a long peninsula shaped like a boot, surrounded on the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea and on the east by the Adriatic, extending into the Central Mediterranean Sea. The major part of Italy's mountain retreats also invite visitors to experience a wide array of cultural and outdoor activities each season. Italy's Alpine regions are some of the most magical destinations in Europe, and this trip takes you to the best lakes and mountains in the area.

Colle delle Finestre is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,203m (7,227ft) above sea level, located in the Italian region of Piemonte.

Col de Tende-Colle di Tenda is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.876m (6,154ft) above the sea level, located on the border of France and Italy. If you like hairpin bends, this climb is a must. It's one of the most hairpinned roads in the world.

Passo del Tremalzo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.845m (6,053ft) above the sea level, located in Italy. The road to the summit was built for strategic reasons during World War I.

Colle Fauniera (or Colle Pantani) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.485m (8,152ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region of Piedmont. It’s said to be the most alluring and unspoilt pass around 2.500 metres in the Alps.

Torri di Fraele is a fortress at an elevation of 1.992m (6,535ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Sondrio, in the Lombardy region of Italy. 18 hairpin turns lead to the Fraele towers, which once were used as strategic point of communication.

Monte Crostis is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.991m (6,532ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Located in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the infamous Strada Panoramica delle Vette is one of the most spectacular roads in the world.

Located in the Province of Brescia, in the Lombardy region of Italy, Strada del Ponale is one of the most beautiful historical panoramic roads in Europe.. The road is completely closed to motor vehicles since 1990.

Passo del Bocco is a mountain pass at an elevation of 962m (3,156ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Emilia-Romagna and Liguria regions of Italy.

Passo della Spina is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.521m (4,990ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in the Lombardy region of Italy. The pass is traversed by the spectacular Anfo ridge road.

Timmelsjoch Pass, also known as Passo del Rombo, is an international high mountain pass located at an elevation of 2,479m (8,133ft) above sea level, on the border of Austria and Italy, just a few meters below the renowned Passo dello Stelvio, the Queen of alpine roads.

Strada degli Eroi is a challenging mountain road running along the boundary of Trentino-South Tirol and Veneto, in Italy. It was built in 1922, after the First World War, to equip the summit area of the mountain.

Old Gavia Road is a short section of the famous climb to the Passo di Gavia. It's an old road near the abyss. It’s now quite washed out with large stones and in places where the railing was missing it had been replaced with strings. Despite the fact that there is a driving ban, the barriers on both sides have disappeared.

Passo Fedaia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.061m (6,761ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige regions of Italy. It is one of the hardest climbs in the world of cycling. 

Passo Baremone is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.450m (4,757ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in the Lombardy region of Italy. The pass is traversed by the spectacular Anfo ridge road. 

Umbrail Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,506m (8,221ft) above sea level, located on the Swiss-Italian border. At this elevation, the road to the summit is currently the highest paved road in Switzerland and one of the highest paved roads in the Alps.

Passo di Croce Domini is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.892m (6,207ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy.

Strada degli Scarubbi is a challenging mountain road on the boundary of Veneto and Trentino-South Tyrol regions, in Italy. Built during the First World War, the road is closed to private vehicles.

Kaiserjägerstrasse-Monterovere is one of the most challenging roads in the world. Located in the Italian province of Trentino, the road includes some narrow sections scarcely wide enough for two cars to pass at the same time.

Passo Sella is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.246m (7,368ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Trento and Bolzano provinces, in Italy. The views around you are terrific.

Monte Zoncolan is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.732m (5,682ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Udine, in the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia of Italy. This savage mountain pass hits a 23% of maximum gradient.

Monte Rite is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.168m (7,112ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno in the Italian region of Veneto.