What are the most spectacular roads in Italy?
In the heart of southern Europe, Italy stands tall as a country intricately woven with roads that are emblematic of its rich tapestry of history, unparalleled artistry, and nature's raw, untouched grandeur. To traverse Italy's roads is to embark upon an odyssey that tells tales from epochs gone by and teases with visions of scenic wonders.
Start the journey with the iconic Stelvio Pass, a masterpiece of engineering often hailed as Europe's ultimate driving challenge. As your wheels glide through its countless turns, you're granted front-row seats to the theatre of the Alps, where snow-capped peaks converse with azure skies. Next, set course for the Amalfi Coast Road, a mesmerizing stretch where the Tyrrhenian Sea's sapphire waves play hide and seek with quaint coastal hamlets, reminiscent of postcard-perfect landscapes.
The Strada della Forra, with its cinematic allure, paints a canvas of dramatic gorges and tunnels, forever etched in memories by James Bond's escapades. The towering Gavia Pass, on the other hand, is a silent ode to the majesty of the Italian Alps. As if that isn't enough, the San Boldo Pass astonishes with its intricate dance of 18 hairpin bends and five tunnels, each narrating tales of human ingenuity. Then, in the midst of these giants, the Splügen Pass offers another layer of Alpine wonder, beckoning travelers with its mix of verdant landscapes and historical charm.
Every road in Italy is not just a means of commute; it's a passage through time, a trail of legends, and a gallery of Earth's masterpieces. And as you journey through these pathways, you are not just covering distances; you're collecting tales, imbibing culture, and weaving memories of a lifetime.
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 the sea level, located in the province of Belluno, in the Veneto region of Italy.
Colle del Lago dei Signori: everything you need to know about this famed road
Colle del Lago dei Signori-Col de Seigneurs is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,130m (6,988ft) above sea level, located on the border of Italy and France. The road traversing the pass was originally built for military purposes and was used during World War II.
The breathtaking road through Serrai di Sottoguda in the Dolomites
Located in the middle of the Dolomites, in the Italian Belluno province, part of the Veneto region, the road along the Serrai di Sottoguda gorge is one of the narrowest roads in the world. The Sottoguda gorge is closed to traffic; only pedestrians and cyclists are allowed.
A 5-star road to Manghen Pass in the Dolomites
Passo di Manghen is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,047m (6,716ft) above sea level, located in Trentino in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. This is a tough climb from both the north and south.
Driving the unpaved military road to Colle del Mulo
Colle del Mulo is a high mountain peak, at an elevation of 2,523m (8,277ft) above sea level, located in the province of Cuneo, in the southwest of the Italian region of Piedmont.
Berga Pass: enjoy a road among the clouds in Italy
Passo della Berga is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.527m (5,009ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in the Lombardy region of Italy. The pass is traversed by the spectacular Anfo ridge road.
Dosso Alto Pass: enjoy a road among the clouds
Passo del Dosso Alto is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.727m (5,666ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in the Lombardy region of Italy. The pass is traversed by the spectacular Anfo ridge road.
The road to Lago di Teleccio: be ready to make room for oncoming vehicles
Lago di Teleccio is a high mountain artificial lake at an elevation of 1.918m (6,292ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian region Piedmont, within the Gran Paradiso National Park. It’s a mind numbing vertical drop of hundreds of meters so you might want to give it a miss on a windy day. The road is really steep, with sections up to 15.7% and 20 hairpin turns. It is narrow, so keep the speed down and be ready to move over and make room for oncoming vehicles.
Colla di Sanson is an old unpaved military road in the Ligurian Alps
Sanson Pass (also known as Colla di Sanson, Bassa di Sanson o Baisse de Sanson) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.694m (5,557ft) above the sea level, located in the Ligurian Alps, a mountain range on the border between France and Italy.
A narrow winding road to Sella Ciampigotto
Sella Ciampigotto is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.830m (6,003ft) above the sea level located in the province of Belluno, in the Italian region of Veneto
Monte Chaberton: Get behind the wheels for one of the planet’s most challenging trips
Strada militare dello Chaberton is an extreme high mountain track climbing up to the fort on top of French Mont Chaberton at an elevation of 3.131m (10,272ft) above the sea level. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Europe.
Colle della Boaria is a challenging drive in the Cottian Alps
Col de la Boaire (Colle della Boaria) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.102m (6,896ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, between France and Italy, which links the Queyras valley (Hautes-Alpes) with Pontechianale in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont.
Ultimate 4wd destination: Laghi di Cedèc
Laghi di Cedèc is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.833m (9,294ft) above the sea level, located in the northern Italian province of Sondrio. It's one of the highest roads in Europe.
Muro di Guardiagrele is one of the Italian steepest roads
Muro di Guardiagrele is a vertical wall located in Guardiagrele, a town in the province of Chieti, part of the Abruzzo region of central Italy. This asphalted street is a climb that kicks up to 30 per cent gradient and is said to be the steepest street in the country.
A paved road to Sapienza Refuge in Mount Etna
Rifugio Sapienza is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.935m (6,348ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, on the southern slope of Mount Etna.
Ravenola Pass is an adventure road you'll never forget
Passo Ravenola, also known as Goletto delle Crocette or Goletto di Ravenola, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.072m (6,797ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. The pass is traversed by the spectacular SP345B.
Travelling through the scenic Strada Statale 125 Orientale Sarda
Located on the the eastern coast of the Italian region Sardinia, Strada Statale 125 Orientale Sarda is one of the most beautiful roads of Europe.
The road to Colle l’Azzara is not recommended if you don't know how to reverse
Colle l’Azzara is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.595m (5,232ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Torino, Piedmont, in northern Italy.
The road to Frejus Pass in the Cottian Alps was built in the 1890’s
Col du Fréjus is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.546m (8,353ft) above the sea level, located on the Franco-Italian border.
Colle del Garezzo, a journey on the legendary Via del Sale road
Extreme high mountain road climbing up to Colle del Garezzo, a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.795m (5,889ft) above the sea level, located in the mountainous and hilly province of Imperia, in the Liguria region of Italy.
Cason di Lanza Pass winds very remote through the Alps
Passo del Cason di Lanza is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.552m (5,091ft) above the sea level, located in Udine, a province in the autonomous Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, bordering Austria. The final 6km hit gradients of up to 16%.
Passo Stalle, an absolute must for road lovers
Passo Stalle (Staller Saddle) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.061m (6,761ft) above the sea level, located on the Austria–Italy border. Drive at moderate speed. You’re not on a race.
The old military road to the top of Schlüsseljoch
Schlüsseljoch is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.212m (7,257ft) above the sea level, located in the Zillertal Alps, in South Tyrol in northern Italy.
The challenging road to Pian del Re
Pian del Re is a high mountain town at an elevation of 2.020m (6,627ft) above the sea level, located in Valle Po, a valley of Cottian Alps in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont, northern Italy.
Dosso dei Galli: a road on top of the mountains
Dosso dei Galli is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.188m (7,178ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B.
Rolle Pass: a serpentine road to the summit
Passo Rolle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.989m (6,526ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, in northern Italy.
Travel guide to the top of Colle Blegier
Colle Blegier is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.381m (7,811ft) above the sea level, located in the Parco naturale del Gran Bosco di Salbertrand, in the Piedmont region, Italy. Col Blegier is the fourth 'pass' on the Assietta ridge route.
Valparola Pass, an iconic Giro d'Italia climb
Passo di Valparola is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.168m (7,113ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites in the province of Belluno in Italy.
Drive across the Colle Margherina pass
Colle Margherina is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.420m (7,939ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region of Piedmont, about 100 km southwest of Turin and about 40 km west of Cuneo, on the border with France.
Cala Gonone: a road with several dizzying hairpin bends
Cala Gonone is a small beach town located in the Province of Nuoro, on the eastern coast of central Sardinia, in Italy.
Madriccio Refuge, one of the highest roads of Europe
Rifugio Madriccio-Madrisch Hütte is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.828m (9,278ft) above the sea level, located in the Ortler Alps in South Tyrol, Italy. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
Brenner Grenzkammstrasse is an old military road closed to vehicles
Brennergrenzkammstraße is an old high mountain military road located along the border between Italy and Austria.
A narrow paved road to the top of Monte Cesén
Monte Cesen da Valdobbiadene is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.504m (4,934ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Treviso, in the region of Veneto, Italy.
Saint-Barthélemy, a classic road trip in the Italian Alps
Saint-Barthélemy is a high mountain town at an elevation of 1.647m (5,403ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region in northwestern Italy.
Galleria di Rosazza: a narrow, damp and dark tunnel
Galleria di Rosazza is a scary unlit tunnel at an elevation of 1.497m (4,911ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Biella, in the northern Italian region of Piedmont.
SP 227 di Portofino is an exhilarating road with stunning coastal scenery
Strada provinciale 227 di Portofino (SP 227) is one of the world's best coastal drives. It’s an exhilarating drive with stunning coastal scenery located in the province of Genoa, in Liguria, northern Italy.