What are the most spectacular roads in 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.
Col Sud de Menouve
Col Sud de Menouve is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.429m (7,969ft) above the sea level, located in the Valle d’Aosta region, in northwestern Italy.
Colle Ciarbonet
Colle Ciarbonet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.290m (7,513ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont.
Colle di Sant'Anna di Vinadio
Colle di Sant'Anna di Vinadio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.301m (7,549ft) above the sea level, located in the Maritime Alps, on the French-Italian border.
Punta del Cavallo Pass
Punta del Cavallo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.290m (7,513ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont.
Malga Coltrondo
Malga Coltrondo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.892m (6,207ft) above the sea level, located in the heart of the southern Alps in the Veneto region of Northern Italy.
Monte Cuccio
Monte Cuccio is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.041m (3,415ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian island of Sicily. The climb is brutal: narrow and steep.
Grosté Pass
Passo Grosté is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.446m (8,024ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in the northern Italian Alps.
Croce di Poverzone
Croce di Poverzone is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.908m (6,256ft) above the sea level, located in the heart of the Valtellina, in Italy.
Alpe Vieille
Alpe Vieille is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.240m (7,349ft) above the sea level, located in the Valle d’Aosta region, in northwestern Italy.
Translessinia
Translessinia (Strada Provinciale 14) is a very funny dirt-road experience in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, running entirely over 1.500m above the sea level.
Punta di Santa Maria
Punta di Santa Maria is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.138m (7,014ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria.
Lavaredo Refuge
Rifugio Lavaredo is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 2.353m (7,719ft) above the sea level, located in the Sexten Dolomites of northeastern Italy, rising on the border between the northernmost section of the province of Belluno and Alta Pustera, in South Tyrol.
Testa Bassa
Testa Bassa is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.454m (8,051ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley, in the Italian Alps.
Champillon
Champillon is a high mountain plateau at an elevation of 2.092m (6,863ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region of north-western Italy.
Plan Maison
Plan Maison is a ski resort at an elevation of 2.552m (8,372ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region of north-western Italy.
Nino Corsi Refuge
Rifugio Nino Corsi, also known as Zufallhütte, is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.245m (7,365ft) above the sea level, located of the Ortler Alps on the border between South Tyrol and the Province of Sondrio, Italy.
Feistritzer Alm
Feistritzer Alm is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.718m (5,633ft) above the sea level, located in the Carnic Alps, on the border of Austria and Italy.
Monte Zoufplan
Monte Zoufplan da Cercivento is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.968m (6,456ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Monte Lagazuoi
Monte Lagazuoi is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.572m (8,438ft) above the sea level, located in the Veneto region of northern Italy. It’sone of the highest roads of the country.
Malga di Pinalto
Malga di Pinalto (Penaud Alm) is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.328m (7,637ft) above the sea level, located in South Tyrol, northern Italy.
Padon Pass
Passo Padon is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.427m (7,962ft) above the sea level, located in Veneto region, in Northern Italy. The average gradient is 17.05%, with some sections up to 25%.
Fronza alle Coronelle Refuge
Rifugio Fronza alle Coronelle - Kölner Hütte is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.341m (7,680ft) above the sea level, located in the province of South Tyrol in northeastern Italy.
Mutegg
Mutegg is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.624m (8,608ft) above the sea level, located in Italy’s South Tyrol region. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.
Doss dei Gembri
Doss dei Gembri is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.520m (8,267ft) above the sea level, located in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
Monte La Mula
Monte La Mula is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.934m (6,345ft) above the sea level, located in the Calabria region of southern Italy.
Contrabbandieri Pass
Passo dei Contrabbandieri (Smugglers pass) is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.581m (8,467ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino-South Tyrol in northern Italy. The road goes through the ruins of several WWI fortifications. It's one of the highest roads of the country.
Barbacana Pass
Passo Barbacana is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.180m (7,152ft) above the sea level in the Alpes-Maritimes, located on the Italian-French border. The pass is reachable by motor vehicles on the Italian side. On the French side it’s just a walking path.
Averau Refuge
Rifugio Averau is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.418m (7,933ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno in Italy.
Pulpito Refuge
Rifugio Pulpito is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.354m (7,723ft) above the sea level, located in the Ortler Range, in South Tyrol, in northern Italy.
Corna Pass
Passo della Corna (Pas de la Corne) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.046m (3,431ft) above the sea level, located on the Italian-Franch border.
Road SP35
Strada Provinciale 35 is a very challenging road in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The road is very steep with several hairpin turns, offering stunning views of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Lago Agnel
Lago Agnel is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.332m (7,650ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont.
Picco Palù-Großer Moosstock
Picco Palù is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.490m (8,169ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian province of South Tyrol.
Strada delle Farfalle, a wild road in Sardinia
Strada delle Farfalle is a mountain road located in the Province of Sassari in the Italian region Sardinia. Located in the Limbara mountain range, the road is pretty rough in parts.
Collalunga Pass
Passo di Collalunga is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.441m (8,008ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes, on the Italian-French border.
Col di Tsomioy
Col di Tsomioy is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.464m (8,083ft) above the sea level, located in the Valle d’Aosta region, in northwestern Italy.