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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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. 

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 (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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Cala Gonone is a small beach town located in the Province of Nuoro, on the eastern coast of central Sardinia, in Italy. 

Brennergrenzkammstraße is an old high mountain military road located along the border between Italy and Austria.

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 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 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.

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.

Passo del Pura is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.445m (4,740ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Colle di Sampeyre is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,284m (7,493ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy. The pass connects the Varaita valley and the Maira valley.

Passo d’Alpisella is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.285m (7,497ft) above the sea level located in Lombardy (Italy).

Passo del Dasdana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.086m (6,843ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B.

Punta Sa Berritta (also known as Punta Balestreri) is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.362m (4,469ft) above the sea level, located in the Gallura region of northern Sardinia, Italy, in the province of Sassari.

Passo di Vizze (Pfitscherjoch) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.276m (7,467ft) above the sea level located on the border of Italy and Austria. Nestled in the Zillertal Alps, the pass links Tyrol, Austria, and South Tyrol, Italy.

Rifugio Fodara Vedla is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.980m (6,496ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites, a mountain range in northeastern Italy. It's said to be the steepest climb in the Alps.

Sant'Anna di Vinadio is a high mountain sanctuary dedicated to Sant’Anna and Gioacchino and to the parents of Mary, at an elevation of 2.000m (6,600ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont.

Furkelpass-Passo Furcia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.789m (5,869 ft) above the sea level, located in the Pusteria valley, in South Tyrol, Italy.