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.

Col du Plateau Rosa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.088m (10,131ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region of north-western Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Monte Paularo is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.970m (6,463ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Col de Cannelle is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.882m (6,174ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps, on the border between France and Italy.

Bacino di Campo Moro is an alpine lake at an elevation of 2.013m (6,604ft) above the sea level, located in the heart of the Valtellina, in Italy.

Passo Sella Nevea is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.187m (3,894ft) above the sea level, located in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeast Italy.

Monte Altissimo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.069m (6,788ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. At the top of the mountain is the Rifugio Damiano Chiesa.

Forcella di Monte Rest is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.087m (3566ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Pordenone in the Italian autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Rifugio Selleries is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.023m (6,637ft) above the sea level, located in Roure, Province of Turin, Italy. The road to reach the summit starts asphalted, but the last 5 km are a dirt track. 

Passo della Teglia is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.387m (4,550ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria.

Monte Grai is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.920m (6,299ft) above the sea level, located in the Ligurian Alps, a mountain range on the border between France and Italy.

Bocca di Forca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.402m (4,597ft) above the sea level, located in the Veneto region of Italy. It has been rated one of the hardest climbs in Italy, with an average gradient of 11.44%.

Passo San Lucio is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.541m (5,056ft) above the sea level located in the border of Switzerland and Italy, in the Lugano Prealps.

Colle Sestriere (Col de Sestriere) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.035m (6,677ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, in the Province of Turin, Italy. It is situated 17 km (11 mi) from the French border. 

Passo delle Palade is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.518m (4,980ft) above the sea level, located in the South Tyrol, northern Italy.

Passo di Misurina is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.756m (5,761ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Belluno, Veneto, in northern Italy.

Colle Melosa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.540m (5,052ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria, near the French border.

Cima Ciantiplagna is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.849m (9,347ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Passo San Pellegrino is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.918m (6,293ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian Alps. It marks the border between Trentino and the province of Belluno.

Forcella Staulanza (Passo Staulanza) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.773m (5,817ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites in the province of Belluno in Italy.

Colletto Campanino is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.142m (7,027ft) above the sea level, located in the Ligurian Alps, a mountain range on the border between France and Italy. There’s a dirt gravel track to reach the summit.

Monte Martello is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.051m (6,729ft)  above the sea level, located in Val Martello, in the province of Bolzano, Italy. The gradient exceeds 10% for most of the final 1.3km, including the last 14% section with 1km remaining. 

Lago di Malciaussia is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.823m (5,980ft) above the sea level, located in the upper Valle di Viù in the north-west Italian province of Turin.

Campo Imperatore is a high mountain plateau at an elevation of 2.167m (7,109ft) above the sea level, locaated in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.

Colle Bandia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.429m (7,969ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, Piedmont, northern Italy.

Passo di Dordona is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.074m (6,804ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy.

Monte Bondone is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.654m (5,426ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol in Italy. The climb is pretty steep, with sections up to 13%.

Cima Bianca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.977m (9,767ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio, Lombardy region of the Alps in northern Italy, near the Swiss border. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Colle Lauson is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.497m (8,192ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Turin, Italy.

Passo Valbona is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.781m (5,843ft) above the sea level, located in the Veneto Region, in the north-eastern part of Italy.

Rifugio Angelo Bosi al Monte Piana is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.212m (7,257ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Belluno, in northeastern Italy.

Rifugio Cinque Torri is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.137m (7,011ft) above the sea level, located in Veneto, a region in Northern Italy.

Passo di Guspessa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.824m (5,984ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, Lombardy, northern Italy.

Little St Bernard Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.188m (7,178ft) above the sea level, located at the Italian-French border. Keep reading to find out more about when and how you can take the drive, as well as some of the notable sights you’ll see. 

Passo delle Platigliole is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.908m (9,540ft) above sea level located in the Alps, in the province of Sondrio, Lombardy, near the Italian and Swiss border. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Passo Castrin, also known as Hofmahdjoch, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.781m (5,843ft) above the sea level, located in the Ortler Alps in South Tyrol, Italy.

Cornetto di Confine is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.545m (8,349ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps on the border between Austria and Italy. It's one of the highest mountain roads of the country.