What are the most spectacular roads in Italy?

Located in the southern part of Europe, Italy is a dream for drivers as it hosts mountain passes (the Alps), coastal drives (Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian, and Ligurian), and some of the most famous scenic routes in the world. 

It’s nearly impossible to choose only a few roads to drive in the country, as there are about 600 of the most spectacular roads in the world. Stelvio Pass is Europe's most famous road. At an elevation of 2.757m (9,045ft) above sea level, the pass is located in the northern part of the country. It's one of the highest roads of Europe. Featuring 48 hairpin turns, the road through the summit is a marvel of engineering.  

If you prefer coastal drives, you must Experience the Breathtaking Amalfi Coast Road. The road follows the shoreline from Sorrento south to Salerno. The road has been featured in films for as long as cameras have rolled at 24 frames per second. If you want to feel like James Bond, don’t skip Strada della Forra. 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. If you prefer roads with a story, don’t miss Strada delle 52 Gallerie, a WWI military mule road. Built on the massif of Pasubio, it was constructed in this position to stay away from Austro-Hungarian artillery fire.

Rifugio Ferraro is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.066m (6,778ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps in Aosta Valley, Italy.

Monte Penegal is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.737m (5,698ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.

Rifugio Dal Piaz is a high mountain shelter at an elevation of 1.993m (6,538ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno in Veneto, northern Italy.

Passo Pozza di Cola is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.289m (4,229ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in north Italy.

Roccaraso-Aremogna is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.663m (5,456ft) above the sea level, located in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.

Passo della Borcola is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.207m above the sea level, located on the border of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Veneto, in Italy.

Colle della Vaccera is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.461m (4,793ft) above the sea level, located in northwestern Italy.

Laghi delle Cime Bianche is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.885m (9,465ft) above the sea level, located in Breuil-Cervinia, an alpine resort in the Valle d'Aosta region of northwest Italy. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Monte Camoscio is a mountain peak at an elevation of 890m (2,918ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, part of Piedmont, northern Italy.

Col Vidal is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.876m (6,154ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Belluno in the Italian region of Veneto.

Forcella de Mèdo/di Mezzo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.908m (6,259ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites of northeastern Italy. 

Forte Foens is a high mountain fortress at an elevation of 2.186m (7,171ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Turin, in the Piedmont region, in Italy.

Rifugio Gardeccia is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.950m (6,397ft) above the sea level, located in the middle of the Dolomites, in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.

Monte Sighignola is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1.314m (4,311ft) above the sea level, located on the border between the Italian region of Lombardy and the Swiss canton of Ticino.

Monte Novegno is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.672m (5,485ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy.

Forcella Bassa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.880m (6,167ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites of northeastern Italy. 

Passo Fittanze della Sega is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.399m (4,589ft) above the sea level, located Parco Regionale della Lessinia, in Italy.

Monte Motta is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.776m (9,107ft) above the sea level, located in Piedmont, Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Colle San Zeno is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.434m (4,704ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy.

Solda, also known as Sulden, is a high mountain town at an elevation of 1.907m (6,256ft) above the sea level, located in South Tyrol, northern Italy.

Rifugio Scarfiotti is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.163m (7,096ft) above the sea level, located in Piedmont, Italy, in the middle of Susa Valley.

Bassa dell'Ajet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.328m (7,637ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in northwest Italy.

Colle di Caccia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.840m (6,036ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont.

Passo Pertica is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.522m (4,993ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.

Caval di Novezzia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.553m (5,095ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian Alps.

Colle di Gilba is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.528m (5,013ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont.

Simplonpass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.005m (6,578ft) above the sea level, located in the canton of Valais, in Switzerland. 

Monte Volturino is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.563m (5,127ft) above the sea level, located in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.

Spanning the Campania and Basilicata regions of Italy, the iconic Strada Statale 18 from Sapri to Acquafredda is one of the most beautiful drives in the world. The road has been featured in movies, high-end auto commercials, and advertisements.

Col de Gimont is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.332m (7,650ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, between France and Italy.

Forte Pozzacchio, also known as Werk Valmorbia or Forte Valmorbia, is a mountain fortress at an elevation of 882m (2,893ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in northern Italy.

Lago di Fontana Bianca is a high mountain reservoir, at an elevation of 1.900m (6,233ft) above the sea level, located in South Tyrol, northern Italy.

Lago Rotondo is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.007m (6,584ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy.

Alpe Colina is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.076m (6,811ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy.

Rifugio Angelo Dibona is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.045m (6,709ft) above the sea level, located in the heart of the southern Alps in the Veneto region of Northern Italy.

Lago di Alpe Gera is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.024m (6,640ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy.