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.
A memorable road trip to Lago di Place Moulin
Lago di Place Moulin is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 1.968m (6,456ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region of northwest Italy.
Driving the SP256 to Passo di Montescuro: The heart of the Sila mountains
Located in the heart of the Sila National Park in Calabria, the drive through the Passo di Montescuro is a high-altitude mission through one of Southern Italy's most rugged forest plateaus. Reaching an elevation of 1,618m (5,308ft) above sea level, the road known as Strada Provinciale 256 (SP256) is a winding artery that connects Fago del Soldato with Spezzano della Sila. It is a journey where the lush scenery of the "Gran Bosco d'Italia" hides a technical road surface that demands constant vigilance from every driver.
An epic enthralling road to Col di Caneva Pass
Passo di Col di Caneva is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.835m (6,020ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Belluno in the Italian region Veneto.
Baita del Pastore
Baita del Pastore is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.173m (7,129ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio, Lombardy region of the Alps in northern Italy.
Strada Foresta Girgini
The Strada Foresta Girgini is a very challenging drive in the Province of Nuoro in Italian island of Sardinia. The route demands 100% concentration. This road has humbled many egos. Open to all motorized vehicles, however, strongly recommended for high clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicles. The road is very rough--only try driving it in a 2wd car, if you're planning to buy a new car.
Colle delle Selle Vecchie: Driving the Alta Via del Sale Border Track
Colle delle Selle Vecchie (known in France as Col de la Celle Vieille) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,099 meters (6,886 ft) above sea level, located on the border between France and Italy. Situated within the Ligurian Alps, the unpaved track through the pass forms part of the famous Alta Via del Sale, a former military route connecting the Province of Cuneo in Piedmont with the Alpes-Maritimes department.
Driving the road to Picco Pass is not a piece of cake
Passo di Picco is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.870m (6,135ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, Lombardy, northern Italy.
Monte Ologno: Driving the steep 13% Giro d’Italia climb in Piedmont
Monte Ologno is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,168 meters (3,832 ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, in the Piedmont region of Italy. Rising above the western shore of Lake Maggiore, the climb features steep gradients that were featured in the 2015 Giro d'Italia.
Monte Motta: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
Monte Motta is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.776m (9,107ft) above the sea level, located in Piedmont, Italy.
Sella di Russis: A Narrow Alpine Journey through the Dolomites
Sella di Russis is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,729m (5,672ft) above sea level, located in South Tyrol, Italy. Known for its technical driving and stunning Alpine vistas, it is a hidden gem in the heart of the Dolomites.
A memorable road trip to Pampeago Pass
Passo di Pampeago (Reiterjoch) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.003m (6,571ft) above the sea level, located on the border between the provinces of Trento and Bolzano, in northeastern Italy.
How to drive the iconic road to Godi Pass in the Abruzzo
Passo Godi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,588 m (5,209 ft) above sea level, located in the province of L'Aquila, in Italy.
Col de Bousson road: A high-altitude 4WD border crossing in the Cottian Alps
Col de Bousson is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,154m (7,066ft) above sea level, situated directly on the border between France and Italy. This remote crossing in the Cottian Alps offers a technical unpaved driving experience through some of the most pristine landscapes in the Piedmont and Hautes-Alpes regions.
How to drive the Sentiero Riale to Passo di San Giacomo?
The Passo di San Giacomo is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,313m (7,589ft) above sea level, situated on the border between Italy (Piedmont) and Switzerland (Ticino). Located in the Lepontine Alps, the Italian side is accessed via a high-altitude track known as Sentiero Riale - Passo S. Giacomo. While the Italian sector is motorable with the correct equipment, the Swiss side is strictly a walking path, making the summit a logistical dead-end for vehicles.
Is the road to Monte Amiata in Tuscany difficult to drive?
Reaching the summit of Monte Amiata is a climb through the dense forests of an ancient, extinct volcano. At 1,720m (5,643ft) above sea level, this peak in the Province of Siena is the highest point in southern Tuscany. The Strada Provinciale Vetta dell'Amiata, which leads to the top, is a demanding route where the steepness of the terrain and the condition of the asphalt require constant attention from the driver.
Driving the SP335 to Colle Bettone: A steep Piedmont challenge
Colle Bettone is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,834 meters (6,017 ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, in the Piedmont region of Italy. Crossing the base of Monte Bettone, the pass is reached via the narrow Strada Provinciale 335 (SP335).
Road trip guide: Conquering Monte Campomolon
Monte Campomolon is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.848m (6,062ft) above sea level, located in Veneto, in Italy.
A curvy paved road to Lago di Morasco
Lago di Morasco is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.794m (5,885ft) above the sea level, located in Alta Val Formazza, in Piedmont, Italy.
A paved road to Coe Pass in the Venetian Prealps
Passo Coe is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.610 m (5,282 ft) above sea level, located in the Autonomous Province of Trento, in Italy.
Col di Val Bighera: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
Col di Val Bighera is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.120m (6,955ft) above sea level, straddling Brescia and Sondrio provinces of Italy.
Elisabetta Refuge
Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini Montanaro is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.195m (7,201ft) above the sea level, located in northern Italy, in the autonomous region of Aosta Valley.
A memorable road trip to Dondena Refuge
Rifugio Dondena is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.192m (7,191ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps in Aosta Valley, Italy.
Sella di Leonessa
Sella di Leonessa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.890m (6,200ft) above the sea level, located in the Central Apennines, in Italy.
A memorable road trip to Guardia Pass
Passo della Guardia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.508m (4,947ft) above the sea level, located in the Maritime Alps on the border between Italy and France. The pass is traversed by the spectacular Via del Sale.
Colle della Cavallina: a narrow paved road to the summit
Colle della Cavallina is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.934m (6,345ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region of Piedmont.
Valico di Monte Cristo
Valico di Monte Cristo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.767m (5,797ft) above the sea level, located in the Abruzzo region of Italy.
Skihaus Schöneben: Driving the High Road in South Tyrol
Skihaus Schöneben (Rifugio Belpiano) is a high-altitude mountain refuge at an elevation of 2,105 meters (6,906 ft) above sea level in South Tyrol, Italy. Located above Lake Reschen near the triple border of Italy, Austria, and Switzerland, the narrow access road features a paved ascent from San Valentino alla Muta followed by an unpaved service track reaching 2,379 meters.
A funny drive to Colletto di Canosio
Colletto di Canosio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.650m (5,413ft) above the sea level, located in the Val Maira, a valley in south-west of Piedmont in the Province of Cuneo, Italy.
Monte Botte Donato
Monte Botte Donato is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.928m (6,325ft) above the sea level, located in the Calabria region of Southern Italy.
Cime Bianche
Cime Bianche is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.899m (9,511ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region of north-western Italy.
How To Travel To Barmasse Refuge
Rifugio Barmasse is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.169m (7,116ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps, in Aosta Valley, Italy.
Driving the extreme unpaved road to Passo Feudo
Passo Feudo is a high mountain pass sitting at 2,190 meters above sea level in the Trento province of Northern Italy. Located in the heart of the Latemar massif, the road to the summit is one of the most aggressive and technical climbs in the Dolomites. This is not a standard mountain pass; it is a service road for the ski lifts that defies gravity with vertical ramps. Driving here means tackling a relentless wall of loose gravel where the incline is so steep that even the most powerful 4x4s are pushed to their absolute thermal and mechanical limits.
Colla di Langan
Colla di Langan is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.044m (3,425ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria.
Driving the Polentin Pass: The border road between Austria and Italy
Polentin Pass (Passo Polentin in Italian) is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,538 meters (5,045 ft) above sea level, located on the border between Austria and Italy. Crossing the Carnic Alps, the pass connects Stranig in Carinthia (Austria) with Paularo in Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Italy).
Driving to Monte Colmo: A vertical climb above Edolo
Monte Colmo is a mountain peak reaching an elevation of 1,933 meters (6,341 ft) above sea level, located in the Brescia province of Lombardy, Italy. Traversed by Via Monte Colmo, the paved mountain road climbs steeply out of the Camonica valley above the town of Edolo.
Travel guide to the top of Mont'Arrubiu
Monte Arrubiu (Mont'Arrubiu) is a peak at an elevation of 442m (1,450ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cagliari in the Italian region Sardinia.