What are the most spectacular roads in Italy?

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

Choosing only a few roads to drive in the country is nearly impossible, as there are about 600 spectacular routes. 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 in 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 since cameras started rolling 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 without danger in a few narrow and steep spots. If you prefer roads with a story, don’t miss the 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.

Forca d'Acero is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,538m (5,045ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Lazio and Abruzzo regions, in Italy.

Colletto Pramand is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,145m (7,037ft) above sea level, located in the Metropolitan City of Turin, in Italy.

Lago di Cancano is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 1,920m (6,299ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio, in Italy. The place is a postcard due to its stunning views.

Marchkinkele - Cometto di Confine is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,545m (8,349ft) above sea level, located on the border between Austria and Italy. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Passo di Oclini is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,995m (6,545ft) above sea level, located in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region of Italy.

Monte Belvedere di Fiumedinisi is a mountain peak at an elevation of 750m (2,460ft) above sea level, located in the Metropolitan City of Messina, in Italy.

Passo Rodella is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,866m (6,122ft) above sea level, located in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, in Italy.

Little St Bernard Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.188m (7,178ft) above sea level, located on 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. 

Col Tze Core is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,607m (5,272ft) above sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region of Italy.

Passo Campo Carlo Magno is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.682m (5,518ft) above sea level, located in the Autonomous Province of Trento, in Italy.

Passo Castrin is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,781m (5,843ft) above sea level, located in South Tyrol, Italy.

Strada Militare del Colle della Vecchia is an old military road located in the metropolitan city of Turin, built in the 1880s and closed to motor vehicles, winding its way up to 2,000m above sea level.

Colle del Ghisallo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 754m (2,473ft) above sea level, located in the Province of 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.

Passo Cereda is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,361 m (4,465 ft) above sea level, located in Italy.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Strada Provinziale 11 (SP11) is a short mountain road located in Trentino, in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.

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.

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.

Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.809m (9,215ft) above the sea level, located in the Valle d’Aosta region, in northwestern Italy. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Orrido della Val Taleggio is a stunning gorge located in the province of Bergamo, Lombardy, in northern Italy. The road is a delight to drive, with every kind of twist and turn.

Laghi di Cedèc bridge lies at an elevation of 2.743m (8,999ft) above the sea level, in the northern Italian province of Sondrio. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Strada Cancelli-Fossato di Vico is a short mountain road located on the boundary between Perugia and Ancona provinces, in central Italy.

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.

Located in the province of Belluno in the Italian region of Veneto, the Sospirolo-Gosaldo Road is a very scenic journey.

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.

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.

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.

Lago di Lei is an artificial high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.000m (6,500ft) above the sea level, located in the Valle di Lei, on the border of Switzerland and Italy.

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.

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