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.

Col du Plateau Rosa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.088m (10,131ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region of north-western Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Monte Paularo is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.970m (6,463ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Col de Cannelle is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.882m (6,174ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps, on the border between France and Italy.

Bacino di Campo Moro is an alpine lake at an elevation of 2.013m (6,604ft) above the sea level, located in the heart of the Valtellina, in Italy.

Passo Sella Nevea is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.187m (3,894ft) above the sea level, located in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeast Italy.

Forcella di Monte Rest is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.087m (3566ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Pordenone in the Italian autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Monte Grai is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.920m (6,299ft) above the sea level, located in the Ligurian Alps, a mountain range on the border between France and Italy.

Monte Altissimo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.069m (6,788ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. At the top of the mountain is the Rifugio Damiano Chiesa.

Rifugio Selleries is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.023m (6,637ft) above the sea level, located in Roure, Province of Turin, Italy. The road to reach the summit starts asphalted, but the last 5 km are a dirt track. 

Passo della Teglia is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.387m (4,550ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria.

Bocca di Forca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.402m (4,597ft) above the sea level, located in the Veneto region of Italy. It has been rated one of the hardest climbs in Italy, with an average gradient of 11.44%.

Passo San Lucio is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.541m (5,056ft) above the sea level located in the border of Switzerland and Italy, in the Lugano Prealps.

Colle Sestriere (Col de Sestriere) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.035m (6,677ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, in the Province of Turin, Italy. It is situated 17 km (11 mi) from the French border. 

Passo delle Palade is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.518m (4,980ft) above the sea level, located in the South Tyrol, northern Italy.

Passo di Misurina is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.756m (5,761ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Belluno, Veneto, in northern Italy.

Colle Melosa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.540m (5,052ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria, near the French border.

Forcella Staulanza (Passo Staulanza) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.773m (5,817ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites in the province of Belluno in Italy.

Cima Ciantiplagna is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.849m (9,347ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Passo San Pellegrino is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.918m (6,293ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian Alps. It marks the border between Trentino and the province of Belluno.

Campo Imperatore is a high mountain plateau at an elevation of 2.167m (7,109ft) above the sea level, locaated in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.

Colletto Campanino is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.142m (7,027ft) above the sea level, located in the Ligurian Alps, a mountain range on the border between France and Italy. There’s a dirt gravel track to reach the summit.

Monte Martello is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.051m (6,729ft)  above the sea level, located in Val Martello, in the province of Bolzano, Italy. The gradient exceeds 10% for most of the final 1.3km, including the last 14% section with 1km remaining. 

Lago di Malciaussia is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.823m (5,980ft) above the sea level, located in the upper Valle di Viù in the north-west Italian province of Turin.

Colle Bandia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.429m (7,969ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, Piedmont, northern Italy.

Passo di Dordona is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.074m (6,804ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy.

Monte Bondone is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.654m (5,426ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol in Italy. The climb is pretty steep, with sections up to 13%.

Cima Bianca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.977m (9,767ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio, Lombardy region of the Alps in northern Italy, near the Swiss border. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Rifugio Angelo Bosi al Monte Piana is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.212m (7,257ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Belluno, in northeastern Italy.

Rifugio Cinque Torri is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.137m (7,011ft) above the sea level, located in Veneto, a region in Northern Italy.

Colle Lauson is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.497m (8,192ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Turin, Italy.

Passo Valbona is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.781m (5,843ft) above the sea level, located in the Veneto Region, in the north-eastern part of Italy.

Passo di Guspessa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.824m (5,984ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, Lombardy, northern Italy.

Passo delle Platigliole is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.908m (9,540ft) above sea level located in the Alps, in the province of Sondrio, Lombardy, near the Italian and Swiss border. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Little St Bernard Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.188m (7,178ft) above the sea level, located at the Italian-French border. Keep reading to find out more about when and how you can take the drive, as well as some of the notable sights you’ll see. 

Passo Castrin, also known as Hofmahdjoch, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.781m (5,843ft) above the sea level, located in the Ortler Alps in South Tyrol, Italy.

Cornetto di Confine is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.545m (8,349ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps on the border between Austria and Italy. It's one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

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