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.
A paved road to Cereda Pass in the Dolomites
Passo Cereda is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.361m (4,465ft) above the sea level, located in the southern slopes of the Pale di San Martino mountain group, in Italy.
A postcard road to Lago di Cancano
Lago di Cancano is a high mountain artificial lake at an elevation of 1.920m (6,299ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Sondrio, Lombardy, in Italy. The place is a postcard.
An old military road to Barbara Lowrie Refuge
Rifugio Barbara Lowrie is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.753m (5,751ft) above the sea level, located in the Metropolitan City of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont.
Driving the road to Colletto Pramand is not a piece of cake
Colletto Pramand is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.087m (6,847ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes Alpes, in the southwestern part of the Italian Alps. The road to the pass is called Via dei Saraceni.
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Cima Becco Rosso
Becco Rosso pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.261m (7,417ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps, on the border of France and Italy.
The iconic road to Oclini Pass in the Dolomites
Passo di Oclini is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.995m (6,545ft) above the sea level, located in the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, in Italy.
The road to Rodella Pass, a chillout in high mountains
Passo Rodella is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.866m (6,122ft) above the sea level, located in the heart of the Dolomites in South Tyrol, Italy.
A steep paved road to Col Tze Core in the Aosta Valley
Col Tze Core is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.607m (5,272ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley, a mountainous semi-autonomous region in northwestern Italy.
A memorable road trip to Lago Miserin
Lago Miserin is a remote alpine lake at an elevation of 2.580m (8,464ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps in Aosta Valley, Italy. It's one of the highest roads of Italy.
A paved and gravel road to Kronplatz-Plan de Corones
Kronplatz-Plan de Corones is a spectacular high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.275m (7,464ft) above the sea level, located in the Pusteria valley, in South Tyrol, Italy.
Colle del Ghisallo, a paradise for cyclists
Colle del Ghisallo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 754m (2,473ft) above the sea level, located in Magreglio, close to Lake Como in Italy. Near the summit there’s a sanctuary, called Santuario Del Ghisallo. This tiny church is home to the Patron Saint of Cyclists and includes a small cycling museum.
The paved road to Panarotta Refuge in the Dolomites
Rifugio Panarotta is a mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.780m (5,839ft) above the sea level, located in the Sugana Valley, in the autonomous province of Trentino in Northern Italy. The ascent is a popular one with amateur cyclists.
An old military road to Colle Cologna
Colle Cologna is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.394m (7,854ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, Piedmont, northern Italy.
An old military road to Cima di Morissolo
Cima di Morissolo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.311m (4,301ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Italian region Piedmont.
A 5 stars road to Passo Campo Carlo Magno in the Italian Alps
Passo Campo Carlo Magno is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.682m (5,518ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
An old military road to Colle di Costa Piana
Colle di Costa Piana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.313m (7,588ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Turin, Italy.
Strada Militare del Colle della Vecchia, an old military road built in the 1880's
Strada Militare del Colle della Vecchia is an old military road built in the 1880's and closed to motor vehicles, winding its way up to 2.000m above the sea level. The road is located in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont.
The road to Monte Toraro is not for the faint of heart
Monte Toraro is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.890m (6,200ft) above the sea level, located in the Venetian Prealps, a mountain range in the south-eastern part of the Alps in Triveneto, in the north-eastern part of Italy.
A very bumpy, grueling road to Colle Malaberghe
Colle Malaberghe is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.225m (7,299ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, between France and Italy.
A steep gravel road to Monte Telegrafo in the Dolomites
Monte Telegrafo is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.483m (8,146ft) above the sea level, located in the Trentino-South Tyrol region of Italy.
A narrow paved road to Lago di Malga Bissina
Lago di Malga Bissina is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.815m (5,954ft) above the sea level, located in the Val di Daone, in the Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy.
A very bumpy, grueling road to Lago Ponton
Lago Ponton is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.645m (8,677ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Aosta in the Aosta Valley region of Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.
Forca d'Acero: an Italian iconic climb
Forca d'Acero is a high mountain valley at an elevation of 1.538m (5,045ft) above the sea level, located on the border between Lazio and Abruzzo regions, in Italy.
A winding paved road to Portella Femmina Morta
Portella Femmina Morta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.535m (5,036ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian region of Sicily.
Driving to the international San Jorio Pass
Passo San Jorio (Passo di San Iório) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.012m (6,601ft) above the sea level located on the border of Switzerland and Italy.
The road to Rifugio Genova-Figari is not for the faint of heart
Rifugio Genova-Figari is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.015m (6,610ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy.
The unpaved road to the touristic Mount Belvedere
Mount Belvedere is a mountain pass at an elevation of 750m (2,460ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily.
A Most Tricky Scenic Drive to Rifugio La Baita
Rifugio La Baita-Val di Rezzalo is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.860m (6,102ft) above the sea level, located in the northern Italian province of Sondrio.
Driving the coastal road from Fornelli to Cala d'Oliva
The scenic Fornelli-Cala d'Oliva Road is the only paved road on the Italian island of Asinara, at the north-western tip of Sardinia, in the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the best coastal drives in the world.
A wild road to Mont Fallère in the Pennine Alps
Mont Fallère is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.377m (7,798ft) above the sea level, located in the Valle d’Aosta region, in northwestern Italy.
A wild road to Refuge Grand Tournalin
Refuge Grand Tournalin is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.535m (8,316ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps in Aosta Valley, Italy. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Italy.
The breathtaking road to Salati Pass
Passo dei Salati is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.988m (9,803ft) above the sea level, located on the border between Piedmont and Val de Aosta, in Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.
A delightful yet challenging drive to Forcella Chiandolada
Forcella Chiandolada is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.582m (5,190ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Belluno in the Italian region Veneto.
Mount Etna: a remote road to Europe's largest and most active volcano
Mount Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe. Located on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, a sandy road climbs up to 3.120m (10,236ft) above the sea level. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.
The Wild Road to Cadino Pass
Passo di Cadino is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.937m (6,354ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy.
A memorable road trip to Costazza Pass
Passo della Costazza (Baita Segantini) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.181m (7,155ft) above the sea level, located in Trentino in Italy. The road to the pass starts from the Passo Rolle.