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 Valanza

Valanza Refuge

Rifugio Valanza is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.748m (5,734ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont.

Albergo Saltner Edelweiss

How to drive the steep road to Albergo Saltner Edelweiss?

Albergo Saltner Edelweiss is a high mountain hotel at an elevation of 1.351m (4,429ft) above sea level, located in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol, in Italy. The climb is simply brutal, with a maximum gradient of 30%.

Passo Silvella

Silvella Pass

Passo Silvella, also known as Kniebergsattel, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.329m (7,641ft) above the sea level, located in the heart of the southern Alps in the Veneto region of Northern Italy.

Strada Provinciale 18

Driving the SP18 to Ranzo, the road carved into the rock

Located in the Autonomous Province of Trento, in Italy, Strada Provinciale 18 is a road dug into the rock and, at times, overhanging.

Rifugio Pier Fortunato Calvi

Pier Fortunato Calvi Refuge

Rifugio Pier Fortunato Calvi is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.164m (7,099ft) above the sea level, located  in the heart of the southern Alps in the Veneto region of Northern Italy.

Passo Avanza da Pierabech

Avanza da Pierabech Pass

Passo Avanza da Pierabech is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.740m (5,708ft) above the sea level, located in the Carnic Alps, northern Italy.

Strada Berbenno di Valtellina-Caldenno

Strada Berbenno di Valtellina-Caldenno

Berbenno di Valtellina-Caldenno road is one of the Most Insane Bike Rides You Don't Want to Miss. Located in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy, the climb is just brutal. The maximum slope is 40%. It’s one of the hardest and most epic climbs you can ride on two wheels.

Lago Torrei

Lago Torrei

Lago Torrei is a mountain reservoir at an elevation of 874m (2,867ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian island of Sardinia.

Rifugio Bella Vista

Bella Vista Refuge

Rifugio Bella Vista is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.887m (9,471ft) above the sea level, located in Italy’s South Tyrol region.

Alpe di Rodengo

Alpe di Rodengo

Alpe di Rodengo, also known as Rodenecker Alm, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.715m (5,626ft) above the sea level, located in the Lüsner mountains in South Tyrol, Italy.

Vara Bridge

A road with countless tunnels on Ponti di Vara to transport marble to the quarry

Originally built as a railway tunnel, the historic Vara Bridge was constructed in 1876 for marble transportation to the quarries of Carrara, Italy. Today, the bridge is used by trucks and vehicles. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Corno della Paura

Corno della Paura

Corno della Paura is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.525m (5,003ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige.

Pian della Mussa

Pian della Mussa

Pian della Mussa is a high mountain town at an elevation of 1.847m (6,059ft) above the sea level, located  in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont.

Lago Layet

Lago Layet

Lago Layet is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.273m (7,457ft) above the sea level, located in the Valle d’Aosta region, in northwestern Italy.

Colla Domenica

Colla Domenica

Colla Domenica is a mountain pass at an elevation of 947m (3,106ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria.

Strada Provinciale 256

How to drive the steep Strada Provinciale 256 in Piedmont?

Strada Provinciale della Valle Varaita-SP256 is a high mountain road located in the Province of Cuneo, in Italy.

Cima Mares

How to drive the unpaved road to Cima Mares?

Cima Mares is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.561m (5,121ft) above the level, located in the Italian region Piedmont.

Rifugio La Riposa

La Riposa Refuge: Driving the 1,587m Climb in Piedmont

At an elevation of 2,205m (7,230ft) above sea level, La Riposa Refuge (locally known as Rifugio La Riposa) is a high mountain cabin located in the Metropolitan City of Turin, in the Piedmont region of Italy. Positioned on the slopes of Monte Rochemelon, the road to the refuge is a challenging alpine track used primarily by hikers and mountain rescue services.

Valnontey

Valnontey

Valnontey is a small mountain town at an elevation of 1.666m above the sea level, located in Aosta Valley, in Italy.

Lago del Diavolo

How to drive the unpaved road to Lago del Diavolo in Bergamo

Lago del Diavolo is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.126m (6,975ft) above sea level, located in the province of Bergamo, in Italy.

Translessinia

Translessinia

Translessinia (Strada Provinciale 14) is a very funny dirt-road experience in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, running entirely over 1.500m above the sea level.

Monte Campigoletti

Monte Campigoletti

Monte Campigoletti is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.052m (6,732ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Veneto and Trentino Alto Adige, in northern Italy. During the World War I, one of the most fierce battles was fought on its slopes.

Monte Cimonasso

Monte Cimonasso

Monte Cimonasso is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.085m (6,840ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria.

Colle Puazzo

Colle Puazzo

Colle Puazzo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.112m (3,648ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian region Piedmont.

Monte Borzalet

How difficult is the unpaved road to Monte Borzalet in the Italian Alps?

Monte Borzalet is a mountain peak at an elevation of 2,277 meters (7,470 ft) above sea level, located near the Great St Bernard Pass in the Aosta Valley region of northwestern Italy. Starting from Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, the unpaved mountain track climbs toward the summit and Rifugio Frassati near the Swiss border.

Colle del Prete

Colle del Prete

Colle del Prete is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.733m (5,685ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont.

Rifugio Helios

Driving the vertical track to Rifugio Helios: A 2.328m climb in the Cottian Alps

The track to Rifugio Helios is an unpaved mountain ascent reaching an elevation of 2,328 meters (7,637 ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, in the Piedmont region of Italy. Rising above the village of Maddalena in the Cottian Alps, the route forms part of the high-altitude sector of the SP251 road.

Val Mara Road

Driving the impossible turns on the Val Mara Road

Val Mara Road is the name of a challenging drive running across the border of Switzerland and Italy, to the south of Lago di Lugano.

Val Forcola

How to drive the military road to Val Forcola

Val Forcola is a high mountain valley at an elevation of 2.126m (6,975ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio, in Italy.

Monte Lagazuoi

Monte Lagazuoi

Monte Lagazuoi is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.572m (8,438ft) above the sea level, located in the Veneto region of northern Italy. It’sone of the highest roads of the country.

Passo le Selle

Selle Pass

Passo le Selle is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.536m (8,320ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. High winds blow here all year long. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Colle Pian Fum

How to drive the challenging mountain road to Colle Pian Fum in Piedmont

Colle Pian Fum is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,999 meters (6,558 ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Turin, in Italy.

Plan Maison

How to drive to the summit of Plan Maison?

Plan Maison is a mountain peak at an elevation of 2.552m (8,372ft) above sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region of Italy. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Monte Castelberto

Monte Castelberto

Monte Castelberto is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.765m (5,790ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino, in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.

Forte del Monte Scale

Can I drive the unpaved road to Forte del Monte Scale?

Forte del Monte Scale is a high mountain military fortress at an elevation of 2.213m (7,260ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio, in Italy.

Alpe Vieille

Alpe Vieille

Alpe Vieille is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.240m (7,349ft) above the sea level, located in the Valle d’Aosta region, in northwestern Italy.