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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Colla d’Onzo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 843m (2,765ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Savona in the Italian region Liguria. The climb is simply brutal: 10.24% average gradient.

Sella dell’Auccia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.108m (6,916ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B.

Monte Corrasi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.463m (4,799ft) above the sea level, located in central-eastern Sardinia, Italy. There is little room for error on this extreme road climbing up the wildest and most remote mountain in the Mediterranean.

Passo di Cimabanche is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.530m (5,029ft) above sea level, located in the Dolomites, a mountain range located in northeastern Italy.

Passo di Lavena is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.992m (6,535ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy.  The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B.

Located on the French-Italian border, in the Alps mountain range, the Mont Blanc Vehicular Tunnel is one of the biggest construction works of the 20th century.

Valico Poffa di Rondenino is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.012m (6,601ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy.  The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B.

Sebina Occidentale is one of the Italian most scenic and challenging roads. Located in Bergamo, northern Italy, the road runs on the western side of Lake Iseo, the fourth largest lake in the zone. It's a beautiful road from Sarnico to Lovere. It passes through the narrow streets of coastal towns.

Passo di Vaia/Alpe di Vaia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.114m (6,935ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B.

Bivacco Carmagnola is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.840m (9,317ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Passo della Gardetta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.442m (8,011ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont.

Passo Duran  is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.601m (5,253ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites in the province of Belluno, Italy. The pass is traversed by the SP347 road.

Monte Padrio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.882m (6,174ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian region Lombardy.

Predel-Passo di Predil is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1.156m (3,793ft), located on the border between Italy and Slovenia.

Passo di Rondenino is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.040m (6,692ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy.  The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B.

Monte Seguret is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.204m (7,230ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. The road to the pass is called Via dei Saraceni.

Francesco Petrarca Refuge (Stettiner Hütte) is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.875m (9,432 ft) above the sea level, located in South Tyrol, Italy. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Passo Cibiana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.535m (5,036ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno in the Veneto region of northern Italy.

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