What are the most spectacular roads in Italy?

Located in the southern part of Europe, Italy is a dream for drivers as it hosts mountain passes (the Alps), coastal drives (Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian, and Ligurian), and some of the most famous scenic routes in the world. 

It’s nearly impossible to choose only a few roads to drive in the country, as there are about 600 of the most spectacular roads in the world. 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 of 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 for as long as cameras have rolled 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 exactly without danger in a few narrow and steep spots. If you prefer roads with a story, don’t miss 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.

San Giacomo Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.313m (7,589ft) above the sea level, located in the Lepontine Alps, on the Swiss-Italian border.

Passo San Antonio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.489m (4,885ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno, in the Italian region of Veneto.

The Strada Foresta Girgini is a very challenging drive in the Province of Nuoro in Italian island of Sardinia. The route demands 100% concentration. This road has humbled many egos. Open to all motorized vehicles, however, strongly recommended for high clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicles. The road is very rough--only try driving it in a 2wd car, if you're planning to buy a new car.

Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini Montanaro is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.195m (7,201ft) above the sea level, located in northern Italy, in the autonomous region of Aosta Valley.

Rifugio Ciareido is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 1.957m (6,420ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno (Cadore) in the Italian region of Veneto.

Skihaus Schöneben Fraiten is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.105m (6,906ft) above the sea level, located in South Tyrol in northern Italy, on the border with Switzerland and Austria.

Lago Alpe del Cavalli is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.508m (4,947ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Italian region Piedmont.

Cime Bianche is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.899m (9,511ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region of north-western Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Passo del Lusia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.005m (6,578ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.

Sella di Sompdogna is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.392m (4,566ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Passo Serra Sant'Antonio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.602m (5,255ft) above the sea level, located on the border of the Lazio and Abruzzo regions, in Italy.

Monte Botte Donato is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.928m (6,325ft) above the sea level, located in the Calabria region of Southern Italy.

Monte Colmo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.933m (6,341ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian province of Brescia, in Lombardy, in the High Camonica valley.

Col dei S'Cios is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.342m (4,402ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Pordenone in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Col de Joux, also known as Col du Mont-Joux, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.930m (6,332ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley in northwestern Italy.

Goletto Gaver is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.795m (5,889ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy.

Monte Ray is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.846m (6,056ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy, near the French border.

Monte della Guardia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.654m (5,426ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian region of Piedmont.

Sella di Leonessa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.890m (6,200ft) above the sea level, located in the Central Apennines, in Italy.

Passo di Pradaccio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.617m (5,305ft) above the sea level, located in Toscana, in central Italy.

Colle Barant is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.381m (7,811ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont.

Passo della Presolana is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.297m (4,255ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy.

Passo Polentin is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.538m (5,045ft) above the sea level, on the border between Austria and Italy.

Bocchetta di Campiglia is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.216m (3,989ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy.

Rifugio Salvatore Citelli is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.742m (5,715ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily. 

Lago di Neves is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 1.866m (6,122ft) above the sea level, located in South Tyrol in northern Italy.

Rifugio Agrituristico Alpe Plane is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.085m (6,840ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, in the Province of Turin, Italy.

Monte Tomba is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.799m (5,902ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto.

Monte Cimone is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.165m (7,103ft) above the sea level, located in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

Monte Pizzoc is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,565m (5,135ft) above the sea level, located in Veneto, Italy.

Forcella Dignàs (Tilliacher Joch) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.094m (6,870ft) above the sea level, located in Val Visdende, a valley in the Alps on the border between Italy and Austria.

Monte Zovetto is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.197m (3,927ft) above the sea level, located in Cesuna di Roana, in Vicenza province, Italy.

Majelletta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.897m (6,223ft) above the sea level, located in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. Expect a steep climb, with a maximum gradient of 15%.

Passo Godi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.630m (5,347ft) above the sea level, located in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.

Col Visentin is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.764m (5,787ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Treviso, in the region of Veneto, in the northeast of the Italian peninsula. The road to the summit is definitely not for anyone suffering from vertigo. There is little room for error on this road.

Chaz-Dura is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.560m (8,398ft) above the sea level, located in northern Italy, in the autonomous region of Aosta Valley.

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