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 delle Erbe (Würzjoch)

A narrow mountain road to Passo delle Erbe

Passo delle Erbe is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.993m (6,538ft) above sea level, located in South Tyrol, in the Italian Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region.

Monte Rite

An old military dirt road to Monte Rite in the Dolomites

Monte Rite is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.168m (7,112ft) above sea level, located in the province of Belluno in the Italian region of Veneto.

Via Chiantigiana

Via Chiantigiana is a scenic road between Florence and Siena through Chianti country

Located in the heart of the central Italy’s Tuscany region, the Strada Regional 222 is a very scenic drive crossing vineyards, olive groves and picturesque small towns..

Anfo Ridge Road

Anfo Ridge Road is a pure Italian adventure

Located in the province of Brescia, in the Lombardy region of Italy, driving the infamous Anfo Ridge Road is a lifetime experience. This old military road is certainly breathtaking and has a fearsome reputation.

Muro di Sormano

Muro di Sormano is one of the hardest and most epic climbs

Muro di Sormano is a short but devastatingly steep climb in Sormano, a municipality in the Province of Como, in Italy.This vertical wall is famous as one of the most severe of any road cycling race, featuring sections in excess of 27% grade. It’s one of the hardest and most epic climbs you can ride on two wheels.

Strada dei Cannoni

Driving Strada dei Cannoni, a military mountain road in Italy

Strada dei Cannoni is a legendary military road located in the northern part of Italy, running across the high watershed between the Maira and Varaita valleys. The road is a masterpiece of alpine engineering, climbing from 680m to 2,287m (7,503ft) above sea level through some of the most dramatic landscapes in the Province of Cuneo.

Via del Sole/Punta Veleno

Take the Brutal Via del Sole and Discover Punta Veleno

Punta Veleno is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.171m (3,841ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Verona in the Italian region of Veneto. The terrible narrow road to the summit has 21 hairpin turns (all numbered) and hits a 25% of maximum gradient. Why such roads are built is difficult to understand; why you go up by bike, is perhaps a case for trained psychologists.

Passo del Vivione

Driving the narrow road to Vivione Pass in the Italian Alps

Passo del Vivione is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.836m (6,023ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy.

Cristo Redentore di Maratea

A roller coaster road to Cristo Redentore di Maratea

Cristo Redentore di Maratea is a colossal statue of Jesus Christ atop of Monte San Biágio, in Maratea, a town in the province of Potenza, in Italy. The road winds up the side of the mountain bend after bend.

Sela de Culac-Kulatsch Satte

Sela de Culac is a chillout in the Dolomites

Sela de Culac is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.020m (6,627ft) above sea level, located in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, in South Tyrol, Italy.

Passo del Tonale

Tonale Pass: Driving on Italy's Scenic Road in the Dolomites

Passo del Tonale is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.883m (6,178ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Lombardy, in Italy.

Passo di Lavazé

A scenic paved road to Lavaze Pass in the Dolomites

Passo di Lavazé is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.824m (5,984ft) above sea level, located in the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, in Italy.

Galleria dei Saraceni

Discovering the secrets of Galleria dei Saraceni, a high-altitude tunnel in Piedmont

Galleria dei Saraceni is a high-altitude tunnel at an elevation of 2,224m (7,296ft) above sea level, located in the Piedmont region of Italy.

Colle dell'Agnello

Agnel Pass is one of the European highest paved roads

Col Agnel-Colle dell'Agnello is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.744m (9,003ft) above sea level located on the French-Italian border.

Col de St-Pantaléon

A steep scenic road to Colle di Saint-Panthaleon in Italy

Col de St-Pantaléon is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.676m (5,498ft) above sea level, located in the Valle d'Aosta autonomous region of Italy.

Rifugio Auronzo

How to drive to Auronzo Refuge in the Dolomites?

Rifugio Auronzo is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.340m (7,677ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between the Trentino-South Tyrol and Veneto regions in Italy.

Theodulpass

Conquering Theodul Pass on the Swiss-Italian Border

Theodulpass is an international high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.336m (10,944ft) above sea level, located on the border of Switzerland and Italy. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Vecchia Strada della Fricca

Exploring the abandoned military Vecchia Strada della Fricca in Trentino-Alto Adige

Vecchia Strada della Fricca is an old, abandoned road located in the northern Italian region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It's a true gem of military architecture. The road has a high risk of falling rocks.

Strada Prato-Uccea

The Challenging Road from Prato to Uccea via the Historic Sella Carnizza Pass

Sella Carnizza is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,123 m (3,684 ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Udine, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy.

Passo Tre Croci

Exploring Passo Tre Croci: A Scenic Road Through the Dolomites

Passo Tre Croci is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.811m (5,941ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Belluno, in the Veneto region of Italy.

Monte San Simeone

A narrow road with 28 hairpin turns and 9 tunnels to Monte San Simeone

Monte San Simeone is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1,208 m (3,963 ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Udine, in Italy. There's space for a single car, with no guardrails, and hairpin turns in tunnels where you can't see the other end.

Passo di Mortirolo

Mortirolo Pass: A Five-Star Road Through the Italian Alps

Passo di Mortirolo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,878m (6,161ft) above sea level straddling Brescia and Sondrio provinces of Italy. This legendary ascent is one of the most grueling challenges in professional cycling, having been featured repeatedly in the Giro d'Italia stage race.

Passo di Foscagno

The Road to Foscagno Pass: The Ultimate Alpine Driving Adventure

Passo di Foscagno is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,308m (7,572ft) above sea level, located in the province of Sondrio, in the Lombardy region of Italy.

Colle di Chavannes

Driving a military road to Colle di Chavannes in Valle d’Aosta

Colle di Chavannes is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.608m (8,556ft) above sea level, located in Valle d’Aosta region of Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Colle d’Ancoccia

Driving the unpaved military road to Colle d’Ancoccia in Piedmont

Colle d’Ancoccia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.533m (8,310ft) above sea level, located in the province of Cuneo, on the far south west of the region of Piedmont, in Italy.

Passo del Maniva

The winding road to Maniva Pass in the Alps and its 38 iconic hairpin turns

Passo del Maniva is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,664m (5,459ft) above sea level, located in the Brescia province of Lombardy, in Italy. This pass offers a picturesque drive through the Italian Alps.

Passo di Falzarego

Falzarego Pass is a road with 38 sharp hairpin bends

Passo di Falzarego is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,105m (6,906ft) above sea level, located in the province of Belluno, in the Veneto region of Italy.

Strada Statale 125 Orientale Sarda

Traveling through the scenic Strada Statale 125 Orientale Sarda

Located on the eastern coast of the Italian region of Sardinia, Strada Statale 125 Orientale Sarda is one of the most beautiful roads in Europe.

Lago Serrù

Driving the curvy road to Serru Lake in the Alps

Lago Serrù is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.275m (7,464ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Turin within the Piedmont region of Italy.

Strada Statale 1 Via Aurelia (SS 1)

Is Strada Statale 1 Via Aurelia (SS 1) worth the drive?

The Strada Statale 1 Via Aurelia (SS 1) is a historic trade route running along the Italian coastline from central Italy to southern France. Derived from the ancient Roman road built in 241 BC by Gaius Aurelius Cotta, it remains one of the most significant state highways in the country and a legendary route for drivers today.

Rifugio Piccolo Pirovano

A Road Up the Rifugio Piccolo Pirovano in Italy

Rifugio Piccolo Pirovano is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 3.018m (9,901ft) above sea level, located in the Italian province of Sondrio. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Rifugio Sapienza

A Paved Road to Rifugio Sapienza on Mount Etna

Rifugio Sapienza is a high mountain refuge situated at an elevation of 1,935 meters (6,348 feet) above sea level, located in the Metropolitan City of Catania, in Italy.

Testa Grigia

The wild road to Testa Grigia in the Alps

Testa Grigia is an international high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.471m (11,387ft) above sea level, located on the border of Switzerland and Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Passo di Monte Giovo

Monte Giovo Pass is a 5-star road in the Italian Alps

Passo di Monte Giovo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.094m (6,870ft) above sea level, located in the South Tyrol province of Italy.

Giogo della Bala

A challenging narrow road to Giogo della Bala in the Alps

Giogo della Bala is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.129m (6,984ft) above sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. 

Forcella d’Entova

What you need to know about the 4x4 track to Forcella d’Entova

Forcella d’Entova is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.802m (9,192ft) above sea level located in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy.