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.
Cinque Croci Pass
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.
The breathtaking road to Forcella di Alleghe
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.
A memorable road trip to Pradarena Pass
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.
An old military road to Lago d'Arpon
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.
Road trip guide: Conquering Forcella Pecol
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.
Bruncu Spina
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.
A paved road to Brenner Pass, the lowest of the Alpine passes
Brenner Pass is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1,370m (4,495ft) above sea level located on the Italian-Austrian border.
The road to Col del Sommeiller will take your breath away
Col del Sommeiller is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,993m (9,819ft) above sea level, located on the French-Italian border. It's one of the highest roads in Europe. This beautiful 26-kilometer climb above Bardonecchia has it all: hairpins, alpine dams, a lake at the summit, and views to die for.
The military road to Colle Bicocca
Colle Bicocca (Col d'la Bicoco) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.287m (7,503ft) above the sea level, located in the southwest of the Piedmont region of Italy.
The unpaved road to Feudo Pass
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.
An awe-inspiring road to Lago della Rovina
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.
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.
Travel guide to the top of Forcella di Pradazzo
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.
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.
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.
Colle de Carsene, a truly outstanding SUV adventure
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.
A scenic paved road to Colle di Joux
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.
A classic road trip to Baite di Mezzeno
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.
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.
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.
A military road to Col de Pernante
Col de Pernante is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.898m (6,227ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps, on the border between France and Italy.
The unpaved road to the international Col de Bousson
Col de Bousson is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.154m (7,066ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, between France and Italy.
A very bumpy, grueling road to Colle della Ciabra
Colle della Ciabra is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.712m (5,616ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont.
Road trip guide: Conquering Dil Pass
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.
Monte Amiata
Monte Amiata is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.683m (5,521ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Siena in the southern Tuscany region of Italy.
Croce Arcana Pass
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.
Montescuro Sila Pass
Passo di Montescuro Sila is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.618m (5,308ft) above the sea level, located in the Southern Italian region of Calabria.
A wild 4x4 road to Passo di San Giacomo
San Giacomo Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.313m (7,589ft) above the sea level, located in the Lepontine Alps, on the Swiss-Italian border.
San Antonio Pass
Passo San Antonio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.489m (4,885ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno, in the Italian region of Veneto.
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.
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.
An awe-inspiring road to Rifugio Ciareido
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.
The hairpinned paved road to Lago Alpe del Cavalli
Lago Alpe del Cavalli is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.508m (4,947ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Italian region Piedmont.
Skihaus Schöneben Fraiten
Skihaus Schöneben Fraiten is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.105m (6,906ft) above the sea level, located in South Tyrol in northern Italy, on the border with Switzerland and Austria.
A memorable road trip to Lusia Pass
Passo del Lusia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.005m (6,578ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
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. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.