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.

Forte del Monte Scale is a high mountain military fortress at an elevation of 2.213m (7,260ft) above the sea level, located in the municipality of Valdidentro Sondrio, in Lombardy (Italy) and belongs to the Alps.

Lago Dietro la Torre is a high mountain artificial lake at an elevation of 2.372m (7,782ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian region Piedmont.

Malga Table is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.616m (5,298ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol in Italy.

Monte Curcio is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.769m (5,803ft) above the sea level, located in the Calabria region of Southern Italy.

Coletto di Laus is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.948m (6,391ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont.

Punta Chaligne is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.311m (7,582ft) above the sea level, located in the Valle d’Aosta region, in northwestern Italy.

Monte Cimonasso is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.085m (6,840ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria.

Sella della Valletta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.054m (6,738ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria.

Passo le Selle is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.536m (8,320ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. High winds blow here all year long. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Alpe Buri is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.525m (5,000ft) above the sea level, located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy.

Rifugio Bella Vista is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.887m (9,471ft) above the sea level, located in Italy’s South Tyrol region. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Vallone di Chavannes is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.184m (7,165ft) above the sea level, located in the Valle d’Aosta region, in northwestern Italy.

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 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 (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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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%.

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.

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 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.

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.