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.

Rifugio Genova-Figari is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.015m (6,610ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, in Italy.

Colle Cologna is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.394m (7,854ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, in Italy.

Monte Sobretta is a high mountain peak located in the Province of Sondrio, in Italy. East of the summit, a minor unpaved road climbs up to 2,901m (9,517ft) above sea level. It's one of the highest roads in Europe.

Lago di Lei is an artificial high mountain lake at an elevation of 2,000m (6,500ft) above sea level, located on the border of Switzerland and Italy.

Monte Toraro is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.890m (6,200ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Vicenza, in Italy.

Passo della Forcella is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.824m (5,984ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The average steepness is 15.08%.

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.

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.

Prarayer Hut is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.005m (6,578ft) above the sea level, located in Aosta Valley, in northern Italy.

Monte Ornito is a mountain peak at an elevation of 764m (2,506ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Latina, in the Lazio region of central Italy.

Carosello 3000 is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.783m (9,130ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio, Lombardy region of the Alps in northern Italy, near the Swiss border. 

Passo Agueglio is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.143m (3,750ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian region of Lombardy.

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.

Monte Festa is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.065m (3,494ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Udine in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Colle Bourget is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.299m (7,542ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Turin, Italy. The peak offers a magnificent view of both sides of the ridge.

Passo di Pradarena is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.579m (5,180ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Emilia Romagna and Tuscany regions, in northern Italy.

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.

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.

Colle di Perla is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.215m (7,267ft) above the sea level, located on the border between France and Italy.

Passo di Fraele is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.955m (6,414ft) above the sea level, located in Lombardy (Italy). It’s located near the border between Switzerland and Italy and belongs to the Alps.

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.

Alpe di Poti is a mountain pass at an elevation of 827m (2,713ft) above the sea level, located in the Arezzo comune in Italy, in Tuscany.

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.

Bruncu Spina is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.828m (5,997ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian region Sardinia.

Im Hinteren Eis is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.030m (9,940ft) above the sea level, located in South Tyrol in northern Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

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.

Colle della Vecchia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.605m (8,546ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont. It's one of the highest Italian roads.

Brenner Pass is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1,370m (4,495ft) above sea level located on the Italian-Austrian border.

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.

Klammljoch-Passo di Gola is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,288m (7,507ft) above sea level, located on the border of Austria and Italy.

Passo Prato Piazza (also called Plätzwiesensattel) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.993m (6,538ft) above the sea level, located in the province of South Tyrol in northern Italy.

The road linking Carzano and Peschiera Maraglio is a very scary drive located in the province of Brescia, on an island in Lake Iseo. The road is only wide enough for one vehicle, and in many places bordered by the water and unprotected by guardrails. If you are afraid of falling into the water, this is a road you should avoid!

Located in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, Rifugio Venini is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.576m (5,170ft) above the sea level.

Passo di Collardente-Pas de Colle Ardente, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.617m (5,305ft) 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.

Monte Ologno is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.168m (3,832ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Italian region Piedmont. It’s a 10.4 kilometres climb at 9% with a steepest steepest section of 13% right after the first kilometre.

Monte Faudo is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.149m (3,769ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria.

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