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 Monte Curcio: Driving the steep service road in the heart of Sila National Park

Rifugio Monte Curcio is a high-altitude mountain refuge situated at 1,769m (5,803ft) above sea level in the Calabria region of Southern Italy. Located within the scenic Sila National Park, the track leading to the summit is a rugged ski-station service road known for its demanding gradient and unpaved surface.

Driving to Forte Pozzacchio: The hidden rock fortress of Valmorbia

Located in the heart of the Leno Valleys in Trentino, the route to Forte Pozzacchio (also known as Werk Valmorbia) is a journey into the last frontier of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Reaching an elevation of 882m (2,893ft) above sea level, this fortress is a masterpiece of military engineering, entirely excavated into the living rock. Reaching it requires navigating the winding roads of the Vallarsa and transitioning from a modern provincial highway to an ancient military track where the history of the Great War is etched into every stone.

Monte Soro: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide

Monte Soro is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.848m (6,062ft) above the sea level located in the Italian region Sicily. It’s a great route for its twisty roads, beautiful colors and views.

Driving the breathtaking road to Bellecombe is not a piece of cake

Bellecombe is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,602m (8,536ft) above sea level, located in the Alps on the French-Italian border. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Colle di Caccia

Colle di Caccia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.840m (6,036ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont.

Solda

Solda, also known as Sulden, is a high mountain town at an elevation of 1.907m (6,256ft) above the sea level, located in South Tyrol, northern Italy.

Fittanze della Sega Pass

Passo Fittanze della Sega is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.399m (4,589ft) above the sea level, located Parco Regionale della Lessinia, in Italy.

How to drive the steep road to Forcella Zovo in Belluno

Forcella Zovo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.604m (5,262ft) above sea level, located in the province of Belluno of Italy.

Prato Nevoso

Prato Nevoso is a ski resort in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, at an elevation of 1.735m (5,692ft) above the sea level.

Val Formica Refuge

Rifugio Val Formica is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.658m (5,439ft) above the sea level located in Asiago, Province of Vicenza, Veneto, in northeast Italy.

Lago Nero

Lago Nero is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.014m (6,607ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont.

How to drive the paved road to Piano dell’Imperatore?

Piano dell’Imperatore is a wide plateau at the foot of Monte Volturino, at an elevation of 1.563m (5,127ft) above sea level, located in the Italian region of Basilicata.

Lago di Alpe Gera

Lago di Alpe Gera is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.024m (6,640ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy.

Digola Pass

Passo della Digola is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.674m (5,492ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno, in the Italian region of Veneto.

Caval di Novezzia

Caval di Novezzia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.553m (5,095ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian Alps.

How to drive the unpaved track to Passo di Val Viola?

Passo di Val Viola is an alpine mountain pass at an elevation of 2,432 meters (7,979 ft) above sea level, located on the border between Italy and Switzerland. The southern approach from the Italian side starts at Arnoga, following an unpaved track through the Valdidentro valley in the province of Sondrio, Lombardy.

Road SP35

Strada Provinciale 35 is a very challenging road in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The road is very steep with several hairpin turns, offering stunning views of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Lago Laudemio

Lago Laudemio is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.575m (5,167ft) above the sea level, located in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.

Lago del Chiotas

Lago del Chiotas is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.978m (6,490ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy.

Colle di Gilba

Colle di Gilba is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.528m (5,013ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont.

Bassa dell'Ajet: Driving the historic 1744 military track in Piedmont

Located in the Province of Cuneo in northwest Italy, Bassa dell'Ajet is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 2,328m (7,637ft) above sea level. This pass is a key point along one of the most historic military ridges in the Alps, offering a driving experience that combines 18th-century engineering with the raw, high-altitude beauty of the Piedmont region.

Maso Corto-Kurzras: Driving the 2,000m Road in South Tyrol

At an elevation of 2,004m (6,574ft) above sea level, Maso Corto (also known as Kurzras) is a high-altitude settlement at the end of the Schnalstal Valley (Val Senales) in South Tyrol, Italy. The road serves as the primary access for the glacier ski resort and sits near the Austrian border, surrounded by peaks exceeding 3,000 meters.

Bormio 2000

Bormio 2000 is a ski station at an elevation of 1.938m (6,358ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio, Lombardy region of the Alps in northern Italy, near the Swiss border.

How difficult is the unpaved road to Colle di Perascritta in Italy?

Colle di Perascritta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,154m (7,066ft) above sea level, located in the Piedmont region, in northern Italy. Traversed by the rugged and unpaved Strada Sistina, the pass climbs through the Graian Alps toward Lago del Monastero.

Col Margherita: Driving the steep 20% ski-station road

Col Margherita is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,524m (8,280ft) above sea level, situated on the border between Trentino-South Tyrol and Veneto in the Italian Dolomites. Logistically, the route is a rugged ski-station service road that traverses the Bocche chain. Technically, the track is defined by its extreme vertical gain and a surface composed of loose volcanic rock and porphyry.

Lago di Fontana Bianca

Lago di Fontana Bianca is a high mountain reservoir, at an elevation of 1.900m (6,233ft) above the sea level, located in South Tyrol, northern Italy.

How to drive the steep road to Mont Fraitève in Piedmont?

Mont Fraitève is a mountain peak at an elevation of 2,687 meters (8,815 ft) above sea level, located in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy, near the French border. The track leading to the summit is an unpaved service road used for the maintenance of the Sestriere ski resort infrastructure and the radio communication towers at the crest.

Driving to Lago di Maulazzo: A scenic mountain road in the Nebrodi Park

Lago di Maulazzo is a beautiful mountain lake at an elevation of 1,453m (4,767ft) above sea level, located in the Messina province of Sicily, Italy. Situated within the Parco Naturale Regionale dei Nebrodi, the road to the lake offers a technical driving experience through one of the largest forested areas on the island.

Sa Crabarissa

Sa Crabarissa is a natural landmark, resembling a woman, located in the Provincia di Nuoro, in the Italian island of Sardinia.

How to drive the steep Strada per Preda Rossa?

Preda Rossa is a high mountain plateau situated at an elevation of 1,955m (6,414ft) above sea level in the Province of Sondrio, Lombardy (Italy). Access to the plateau is via the Strada per Preda Rossa, a technical mountain route that has undergone significant logistical changes since 1991, when a major landslide destroyed the original infrastructure. Currently, the road is mostly asphalted (with a critical 300m gravel sector remaining) and serves as a demanding climb through the Val Masino, requiring high-torque output and precise braking management.

Cheneil

Cheneil is a small village at an elevation of 2.043m (6,702ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Aosta, in northwestern Italy.

SC110 Road: Driving the 16.5% Gradient to Kiener Scharte in South Tyrol

Reaching an elevation of 1,750m (5,741ft) above sea level, Kiener Scharte is a high mountain pass located in South Tyrol, northern Italy. The pass is traversed by the SC110 road, a technical paved route that connects the villages of Maranza and Vallarga through the Puster Valley highlands.