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.

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.

Colle Bettone is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.834m (6,017ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region of Piedmont.

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.

Monte Motta is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.776m (9,107ft) above the sea level, located in Piedmont, Italy.

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.

Colle delle Selle Vecchie (known in France as Col de la Celle Vieille) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,099m (6,886ft) above sea level, located exactly on the border between France and Italy. Situated within the Mercantour National Park, this pass is a key point along the famous Alta Via del Sale (the High Salt Road). It is a former military track that connects the Province of Cuneo in Piedmont with the Alpes-Maritimes department. Driving here is an exercise in precision, as the road is a narrow, white gravel ledge carved directly into the limestone slopes of the Ligurian Alps.

Forcella di Allegheis a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.823m (5,980ft) located in the province of Belluno in the Italian region of Veneto.

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.

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.

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.

Passo Cinque Croci is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.018m (6,620ft) above the sea level, located in the Eastern Alps, in Trentino, northern Italy.

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.

Colle de Carsene is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.221m (7,286ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, between France and Italy.

Passo Feudo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.190m (7,185ft) above the sea level, located in Trento province, in Italy.

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.

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.

Lago d'Arpon is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.830m (6,003ft) above the sea level located on the border of France and Italy.

Monte Cimone is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.165m (7,103ft) above the sea level, located in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

Passo della Croce Arcana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.669m (5,475ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian province of Pistoia, in the Apennines range.

Baite di Mezzeno is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 1.609m (5,278ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy.

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.

Forcella Pecol is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.787m (5,862ft) located in the province of Belluno in the Italian region of Veneto.

Passo del Dil is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.797m (5,895ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Trentino-Alto Adige and Lombardy, in Italy.

Colle della Ciabra is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,712m (5,616ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, in the Italian region of Piedmont. It is known for being a lonely, grueling, and "bumpy" climb that serves as the eastern gateway to the high alpine ridges.

Lago della Rovina is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.540m (5,052ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy.

Laghi delle Cime Bianche is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.885m (9,465ft) above the sea level, located in Breuil-Cervinia, an alpine resort in the Valle d'Aosta region of northwest Italy. 

Colle di Joux is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.640m (5,380ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley of northwestern Italy.

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.

Forcella di Pradazzo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.225m (7,299ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy.

Monte Ray is a high mountain peak reaching an elevation of 1,846m (6,056ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy. Situated near the French border, the road to the summit offers a technical and incredibly steep ascent through the scenic Valle Gesso.

Located in South Tyrol, northern Italy, Skihaus Schöneben sits at an elevation of 2,105m (6,906ft). It is a high-altitude mountain hut near the border where Italy, Switzerland, and Austria meet. The road serves the Schöneben ski resort and offers a steep, technical climb through the mountains above the Reschenpass.

Situated in the heart of the Maritime Alps, Col de Pernante is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,898m (6,227ft) above sea level. Perched directly on the border between France and Italy, this pass is a key point along the strategic ridge that separates the Roya Valley in France from the Vermenagna Valley in Italy, offering a journey through both stunning Alpine scenery and European military history.

Bocchetta di Campiglia is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.216m (3,989ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy.

Roccaraso-Aremogna is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.663m (5,456ft) above the sea level, located in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.

Rifugio Ciareido is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 1.957m (6,420ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno (Cadore) in the Italian region of Veneto.

Monte Colmo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.933m (6,341ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian province of Brescia, in Lombardy, in the High Camonica valley.

Drive Us to Your Road!

With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.