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.
Discover the road to Monte Sambucaro, Italy's WWII battlefield landmark
Monte Sambucaro is a mountain peak situated on the boundary between the Campania and Lazio regions of Italy. A narrow mountain road ascends to a height of 692m (2,270ft) above the sea level on the mountain's western slopes.
How to drive the unpaved road to Pian della Nana in Trentino?
Pian della Nana is a large karst amphitheatre at an elevation of 2.094m (6,870ft) above sea level, located in Trentino, in Italy.
How to drive the unpaved road to Alpe di Tires?
Alpe di Tires (Tierser-Alpl) is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.456m (8,057ft) above sea level, located in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region in Italy.
Alpe Soglia
Alpe Soglia is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.841m (6,040ft) above the sea level, located in Piedmont in northern Italy.
Sella Brunech
Sella Brunech is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.443m (8,015ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
Malga Campobon is well worth the drive
Malga Campobon is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.035m (6,676ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Belluno in the Italian region of Veneto, near the Austrian border.
Driving to Monte Giogo: Abandoned NATO Antennas and Cold War Relics in the Tuscan Mountains
Monte Giogo is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,510m (4,954ft) above sea level, located in the province of Massa-Carrara in the Tuscany region of Italy.
How difficult is the 4x4 road to Lago Gabiet in the Aosta Valley?
Lago Gabiet is a mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2,384 meters (7,821 ft) above sea level in the Gressoney Valley, located within the Aosta Valley region of northern Italy. Situated below the Monte Rosa massif, the unpaved mountain track climbs from Staffal to service the local ski resort infrastructure and alpine lake.
Col Toront
Col Toront is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.615m (5,298ft) above the sea level, located in the Veneto region of northern Italy. The elevation gain is 1.321 meters. The average gradient is 7.33%, with sections up to 16%.
Driving to Cima Uomo: The brutal 20% ski-station track in the Dolomites
Cima Uomo is a mountain peak at an elevation of 2,480 meters (8,136 ft) above sea level in the Dolomites, located within the Autonomous Province of Trento, Italy. Starting near Passo San Pellegrino, the unpaved track serves as a ski resort maintenance route for upper chairlift stations and mountain infrastructure.
Driving the brutal service road to Rifugio Paion: The Alpe Cermis wall
Located at the highest point of the Alpe Cermis ski resort in Trentino, the ascent to Rifugio Paion is one of the most punishing climbs in the Val di Fiemme. Reaching an elevation of 2,223m (7,293ft) above sea level, this service road is a vertical monster designed for heavy machinery and chairlift maintenance. It is a journey where the rules of standard driving don't apply, and where the mechanical strain on your vehicle is constant from the first meter to the summit ridge.
The challenging and panoramic unpaved road to Pointe Leysser
Pointe Leysser is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,429m (7,969ft) above sea level. It is located in the Valle d’Aosta region, in northwestern Italy, towering over the central valley near Saint-Pierre.
Driving the steep 4x4 road to the Palasinaz Lakes in Aosta
The Palasinaz Lakes (also known as the 7 Lakes of Palasinaz, including Literan, Battaglia, Verde, Potcha, Chaudière, Lungo, and Bringuets) are a group of alpine basins at an elevation of 2,445 meters (8,021 ft) above sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region of northwestern Italy. The lakes are accessed via an unpaved mountain track that climbs from the Val d'Ayas above the town of Brusson.
Grotte di San Giovanni: The Cave with a Road Inside
Located in Domusnovas, Sardinia, Grotta San Giovanni is a cave with a road running through it. It was the only cave in Italy that allowed vehicle passage before being closed to traffic. Now, visitors can walk along the road inside the cave. It’s one of the few roads in the world that runs through a cave.
How to drive the military track to Colle Plane?
Colle Plane is a high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 2,222m (7,290ft) above sea level, situated on the international border between Italy (Piedmont) and France (Alpes-Maritimes). Located in the Ligurian Alps, the road to the summit is a critical segment of the historical Via Marenca and is technically integrated into the wider logistical network of the Via del Sale. This narrow, unpaved military track requires a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle due to extreme surface degradation and deep erosion gullies.
Can I drive the unpaved road to Lago di Mucrone?
Lago di Mucrone is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.901m (6236ft) above sea level, located in the province of Biella, in Italy.
How to get by car to Col de Valvacin in the Dolomites?
Col de Valvacin is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,360m (7,742ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Trento, in Italy.
Colle della Portula
Colle della Portula is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.449m (8,034ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region of north-west Italy.
Road SP269c: Driving the Narrow Coastal Ascent in Campania
Located in the Salerno province of the Campania region in southwestern Italy, Strada Provinciale 269c (SP269c) is a technical mountain road. The route serves as a secondary link between the coastal area of Marina di Campagna and the town of Mandia, traversing the steep ridges overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Road trip guide: Conquering Cima Palon
Cima Palon is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.067m (6,781ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol in Italy.
Colle del Pis
Colle del Pis is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.524m (8,280ft) above the sea level, located in the Metropolitan City of Turin, in Italy.
The inhumane climb to Monte Lussari with 22% ramps
Monte Lussari is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.745m (5,725ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Udine, in the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia of Italy.
Pas du Paradis: Driving the D1006/SS25 Border Road in the Alps
Located on the border between France and Italy, Pas du Paradis is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,731m (5,679ft) above sea level. This paved road connects the Savoie department in France with the Piedmont region in Italy.
A race on the Italian Strada Provinciale 349
The Strada Provinciale 349 (SP349) is a challenging mountain road located in the Vicenza Pre-Alps, in the province of Vicenza, in the Veneto region of Italy.
Laghi di Champlong
Laghi di Champlong is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.353m (7,719ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region of north-west Italy.
How to Get to the Iconic Blockhaus in the Apennine?
Blockhaus is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,072m (6,797ft) above sea level, located in the Abruzzo region of Italy.
A scenic unpaved road to Monte Bellino in the Cottian Alps
Monte Bellino is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.172m (7,125ft) above sea level, located in Cuneo province, in Italy.
A military road to Monte Specie in the Dolomites
Monte Specie is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,308m (7,572ft) above sea level, located in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, in South Tyrol, Italy. Along the way, you can see ruins reminiscent of the First World War.
Monte Cengio Mule Track: A Journey Through Italy's Great War Legacy
The Mulattiera di Arroccamento al Monte Cengio is a spectacular Italian military track dating back to the Great War. Dominating the Val d'Astico in the Veneto region, this masterpiece of mountain engineering was built on vertical cliffs to supply men and materials to the bastion of Monte Cengio, the last line of defense for the Po Valley.
How to drive the Great Dolomite Road in Italy?
The Great Dolomite Road (Grande Strada delle Dolomiti) is a high-altitude alpine drive in northern Italy. Spanning approximately 110 kilometers, the route is a technical sequence of three different roads: the SS241 from Cardano to Vigo di Fassa, the SS48 through the Val di Fassa, and the SR48 in the Belluno province, ending in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Road trip guide: Conquering Monte Chersogno
Monte Chersogno is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.411m (7,910ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Cuneo, in Piedmont, Italy.
Gole del Saggitario is a scenic canyon road dug into the cliffs of the Apennines
Sagittarius Gorges is a scenic gorge located in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The road through the gorges is extremely challenging yet scenic, with great views of the Apennines.
Strada Provinciale 96 in Basilicata is the road of the 56 tornanti
Strada Provinciale 96 (SP96) is an exceptionally challenging drive situated in the province of Potenza, within the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.
Giro d'Italia Roads: The history and legends behind the iconic Italian passes
The Giro d'Italia is a demanding 21-day race that traverses the beautiful and often challenging Italian geography. Since its birth at the beginning of the 20th century, it has transformed ordinary mountain roads into legendary driving routes. Join us to discover the most fascinating stories and the roads that have marked the legend of this competition.
The wild and steep road to Laghetto di Campaccio
Laghetto di Campaccio is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.314m (7,591ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio, in the Lombardy region of Italy.
Is Strada Provinciale 97 di Racollo the best road in Italy?
Imagine a fully paved mountain road, with twisting turns, open straights, and almost no traffic. Sounds like a dream? In Italy, the Strada Provinciale 97 di Racollo is a hidden gem, a true paradise for both two- and four-wheel drivers.