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.
Driving the unpaved road to Col de Gimont
Col de Gimont is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.332m (7,650ft) above sea level, located on the border of France and Italy.
Forte Pozzacchio (Werk Valmorbia)
Forte Pozzacchio, also known as Werk Valmorbia or Forte Valmorbia, is a mountain fortress at an elevation of 882m (2,893ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in northern Italy.
Forcella Bassa
Forcella Bassa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.880m (6,167ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites of northeastern Italy.
Monte Volturino
Monte Volturino is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.563m (5,127ft) above the sea level, located in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.
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.
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.
Bassa dell'Ajet
Bassa dell'Ajet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.328m (7,637ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in northwest Italy.
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.
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.
Basera Pass
Passo de Basèra is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.040m (6,692ft) above the sea level, located on the French-Italian border between Liguria, Piemonte and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
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.
Alpe Colina
Alpe Colina is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.076m (6,811ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy.
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 di Valscura
Lago di Valscura is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.274m (7,460ft) above the sea level, part of the Maritime Alps, located in Piedmont, in the province of Cuneo, in Italy.
Colle di Perascritta
Colle di Perascritta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.154m (7,066ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian region Piedmont.
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.
An iconic road to Passo del Sempione in the Swiss Alps
Simplonpass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.005m (6,578ft) above the sea level, located in the canton of Valais, in Switzerland.
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.
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.
Palombino Pass
Passo Palombino is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.035m (6,676ft) above the sea level, located in the Carnic Alps, in 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.
Monte Tombea
Monte Tombea is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.976m (6,483ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy in northern 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.
Sa Crabarissa
Sa Crabarissa is a natural landmark, resembling a woman, located in the Provincia di Nuoro, in the Italian island of Sardinia.
Forcella Zovo
Forcella Zovo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.604m (5,262ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno, in the Italian region of Veneto.
Kiener Alm
Kiener Alm is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.750m (5,741ft) above the sea level, located in South Tyrol in northern Italy.
Maso Corto-Kurzras
Maso Corto-Kurzras is a high mountain town at an elevation of 2.004m (6,574ft) above the sea level, located in the autonomous province of South Tyrol, Italy.
The unpaved road to Colle della Rho
Col de la Roue-Colle della Rho is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.534m (8,313ft) above sea level located on the Italian-French border.
Monte Lozze
Monte Lozze is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.920m (6,299ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy.
Conca Cialancia
Conca Cialancia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.855m (9,366ft) above the sea level, located in the Parco Naturale di Conca Cialancia, in Torino, Italy.
Lago di Maulazzo
Lago di Maulazzo is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.453m (4,767ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian region Sicily.
Forcella Àuta/Alta
Forcella Àuta/Alta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.984m (6,509ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites of northeastern Italy.
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.
Preda Rossa
Preda Rossa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.955m (6,414ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy. In 1991 the road was severely destroyed by a major landslide and then a bad gravel road on the other side of the valley served as the only way to go up.
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.
Albergo Saltner Edelweiss
Albergo Saltner Edelweiss is a high mountain hotel at an elevation of 1.351m (4,429ft) above the sea level, located in the South Tyrol province of north Italy. The climb is simply brutal, with a maximum gradient of 30%.