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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Passo Serra Sant'Antonio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.602m (5,255ft) above the sea level, located on the border of the Lazio and Abruzzo regions, in Italy.

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.

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.

Passo di Pradaccio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.617m (5,305ft) above the sea level, located in Toscana, in central Italy.

Goletto Gaver is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.795m (5,889ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy.

Passo della Borcola is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.207m above the sea level, located on the border of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Veneto, in Italy.

Passo del Lusia is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 2,005m (6,578ft) above sea level, located in the Fassa Valley of Trentino, Italy. Set within the iconic Dolomites, the road to the summit—also known as Pas de Lujia—is a steep, unpaved track with a rich history dating back to the late 19th century.

Passo di Campogrosso (Malga Campogrosso) is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.464m (4,803ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto, in Italy. It’s a very steep climb with a maximum slope of 16%.

Sella di Sompdogna is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.392m (4,566ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Passo Polentin is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,538m (5,045ft) above sea level, situated on the border between Austria and Italy. This alpine crossing connects the Austrian state of Carinthia with the Udine province in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Passo della Presolana is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.297m (4,255ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy.

Rifugio Angelo Dibona is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.045m (6,709ft) above the sea level, located in the heart of the southern Alps in the Veneto region of Northern Italy.

Rifugio Agrituristico Alpe Plane is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.085m (6,840ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, in the Province of Turin, Italy.

Col de Joux, also known as Col du Mont-Joux, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.930m (6,332ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley in northwestern Italy.

Majelletta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,897m (6,223ft) above sea level, located in the province of Chieti, in Italy. The road is very steep, hitting a maximum gradient of 15%.

Col dei S'Cios is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.342m (4,402ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Pordenone in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Rifugio Ferraro is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.066m (6,778ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps in Aosta Valley, Italy.

Monte Pizzoc is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,565m (5,135ft) above the sea level, located in Veneto, Italy.

Rifugio Gardeccia is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.950m (6,397ft) above the sea level, located in the middle of the Dolomites, in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.

Rifugio Salvatore Citelli is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.742m (5,715ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily. 

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