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.
A paved road to Cereda Pass in the Dolomites
Passo Cereda is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.361m (4,465ft) above the sea level, located in the southern slopes of the Pale di San Martino mountain group, in Italy.
An old military road to Barbara Lowrie Refuge
Rifugio Barbara Lowrie is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.753m (5,751ft) above the sea level, located in the Metropolitan City of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont.
A postcard road to Lago di Cancano
Lago di Cancano is a high mountain artificial lake at an elevation of 1.920m (6,299ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio, Lombardy, in Italy. The place is a postcard.
Driving the road to Colletto Pramand is not a piece of cake
Colletto Pramand is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.087m (6,847ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes Alpes, in the southwestern part of the Italian Alps. The road to the pass is called Via dei Saraceni.
The iconic road to Oclini Pass in the Dolomites
Passo di Oclini is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.995m (6,545ft) above the sea level, located in the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, in Italy.
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Cima Becco Rosso
Becco Rosso pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.261m (7,417ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps, on the border of France and Italy.
The road to Rodella Pass, a chillout in high mountains
Passo Rodella is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.866m (6,122ft) above the sea level, located in the heart of the Dolomites in South Tyrol, Italy.
A steep paved road to Col Tze Core in the Aosta Valley
Col Tze Core is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.607m (5,272ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley, a mountainous semi-autonomous region in northwestern Italy.
A memorable road trip to Lago Miserin
Lago Miserin is a remote alpine lake at an elevation of 2.580m (8,464ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps in Aosta Valley, Italy. It's one of the highest roads of Italy.
A paved and gravel road to Kronplatz-Plan de Corones
Kronplatz-Plan de Corones is a spectacular high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.275m (7,464ft) above the sea level, located in the Pusteria valley, in South Tyrol, Italy.
Colle del Ghisallo, a paradise for cyclists
Colle del Ghisallo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 754m (2,473ft) above the sea level, located in Magreglio, close to Lake Como in Italy. Near the summit there’s a sanctuary, called Santuario Del Ghisallo. This tiny church is home to the Patron Saint of Cyclists and includes a small cycling museum.
The paved road to Panarotta Refuge in the Dolomites
Rifugio Panarotta is a mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.780m (5,839ft) above the sea level, located in the Sugana Valley, in the autonomous province of Trentino in Northern Italy. The ascent is a popular one with amateur cyclists.
An old military road to Colle Cologna
Colle Cologna is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.394m (7,854ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, Piedmont, northern Italy.
A 5 stars road to Passo Campo Carlo Magno in the Italian Alps
Passo Campo Carlo Magno is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.682m (5,518ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
An old military road to Cima di Morissolo
Cima di Morissolo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.311m (4,301ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Italian region Piedmont.
An old military road to Colle di Costa Piana
Colle di Costa Piana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.313m (7,588ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Turin, Italy.
The road to Monte Toraro is not for the faint of heart
Monte Toraro is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.890m (6,200ft) above the sea level, located in the Venetian Prealps, a mountain range in the south-eastern part of the Alps in Triveneto, in the north-eastern part of Italy.
A very bumpy, grueling road to Colle Malaberghe
Colle Malaberghe is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.225m (7,299ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, between France and Italy.
Strada Militare del Colle della Vecchia, an old military road built in the 1880's
Strada Militare del Colle della Vecchia is an old military road built in the 1880's and closed to motor vehicles, winding its way up to 2.000m above the sea level. The road is located in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont.
A steep gravel road to Monte Telegrafo in the Dolomites
Monte Telegrafo is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.483m (8,146ft) above the sea level, located in the Trentino-South Tyrol region of Italy.
A narrow paved road to Lago di Malga Bissina
Lago di Malga Bissina is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.815m (5,954ft) above the sea level, located in the Val di Daone, in the Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy.
A very bumpy, grueling road to Lago Ponton
Lago Ponton is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.645m (8,677ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Aosta in the Aosta Valley region of Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.
Forca d'Acero: an Italian iconic climb
Forca d'Acero is a high mountain valley at an elevation of 1.538m (5,045ft) above the sea level, located on the border between Lazio and Abruzzo regions, in Italy.
Driving to the international San Jorio Pass
Passo San Jorio (Passo di San Iório) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.012m (6,601ft) above the sea level located on the border of Switzerland and Italy.
The road to Rifugio Genova-Figari is not for the faint of heart
Rifugio Genova-Figari is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.015m (6,610ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy.
A winding paved road to Portella Femmina Morta
Portella Femmina Morta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.535m (5,036ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian region of Sicily.
A Most Tricky Scenic Drive to Rifugio La Baita
Rifugio La Baita-Val di Rezzalo is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.860m (6,102ft) above the sea level, located in the northern Italian province of Sondrio.
The unpaved road to the touristic Mount Belvedere
Mount Belvedere is a mountain pass at an elevation of 750m (2,460ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily.
Driving the coastal road from Fornelli to Cala d'Oliva
The scenic Fornelli-Cala d'Oliva Road is the only paved road on the Italian island of Asinara, at the north-western tip of Sardinia, in the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the best coastal drives in the world.
A wild road to Refuge Grand Tournalin
Refuge Grand Tournalin is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.535m (8,316ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps in Aosta Valley, Italy. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Italy.
A wild road to Mont Fallère in the Pennine Alps
Mont Fallère is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.377m (7,798ft) above the sea level, located in the Valle d’Aosta region, in northwestern Italy.
The breathtaking road to Salati Pass
Passo dei Salati is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.988m (9,803ft) above the sea level, located on the border between Piedmont and Val de Aosta, in Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.
A delightful yet challenging drive to Forcella Chiandolada
Forcella Chiandolada is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.582m (5,190ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Belluno in the Italian region Veneto.
The Wild Road to Cadino Pass
Passo di Cadino is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.937m (6,354ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy.
A memorable road trip to Costazza Pass
Passo della Costazza (Baita Segantini) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.181m (7,155ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in Italy. The road to the pass starts from the Passo Rolle.
Courage is required to drive the Cresta Sobretta
Cresta Sobretta is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.901m (9,517ft) above the sea level, located in the northern Italian province of Sondrio. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.