What are the most spectacular roads in Italy?

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

Choosing only a few roads to drive in the country is nearly impossible, as there are about 600 spectacular routes. 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 in 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 since cameras started rolling 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 without danger in a few narrow and steep spots. If you prefer roads with a story, don’t miss the 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.

Driving the fantastically twisty road to Torri di Fraele

Torri di Fraele is a fortress perched at an elevation of 1,992m (6,535ft) above sea level, situated in the province of Sondrio, Italy. The fortress, with its 18 hairpin turns leading to the Fraele towers, served as a strategic communication point in the past.

An old military road to Tremalzo Pass

Passo del Tremalzo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,845m (6,053ft) above sea level, located in Italy. The road to the summit was built for strategic reasons during World War I.

Colle Fauniera is a tribute to Marco Pantani

Colle Fauniera (or Colle Pantani) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,485m (8,152ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region of Piedmont. It’s said to be the most alluring and unspoiled pass around 2,500 meters in the Alps.

The historical Ponale Road with stunning views of Lake Garda

Located in the Lombardy region of Italy, Strada del Ponale is one of the most beautiful historical panoramic roads in Europe. The road has been completely closed to motor vehicles since 1990.

Here's What You Need to Know about Driving the Strada delle Vette

Located in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the infamous Strada Panoramica delle Vette is one of the most spectacular roads in the world.

How to drive the infamous Monte Crostis?

Monte Crostis is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.991m (6,532ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Spina Pass is an adventure track you will never forget

Passo della Spina is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.521m (4,990ft) above sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in the Lombardy region of Italy. The pass is traversed by the spectacular Anfo ridge road.

Bocco Pass is an epic climb in the Apennines

Passo del Bocco is a mountain pass at an elevation of 962m (3,156ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between the Emilia-Romagna and Liguria regions of Italy.

The drive to Giau Pass offers the best views in the Dolomites

Passo di Giau is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.238m (7,342ft) above sea level, located in the province of Belluno, in the Veneto region of Italy. You get some of the best views at the top. It’s said to be one of the most beautiful passes in the Dolomites.

The abandoned old road to Gavia Pass

Old Gavia Road is a short section of the famous climb to the Passo di Gavia. It's an old road near the abyss. It’s now quite washed out with large stones and in places where the railing was missing, it had been replaced with strings. Despite the fact that there is a driving ban, the barriers on both sides have disappeared.

Fedaia Pass is the Italian Job road

Passo Fedaia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,061m (6,761ft) above sea level, located in Italy. It is one of the hardest climbs in the world of cycling.

Sella Pass is one of the most iconic roads of the Dolomites

Passo Sella is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.246m (7,368ft) above sea level, located in Italy. The views around you are terrific.

Baremone Pass is an unforgettable Italian journey

Passo Baremone is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.450m (4,757ft) above sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in the Lombardy region of Italy. The pass is traversed by the spectacular Anfo ridge road.

Strada degli Eroi is a military mule road built during WWI

Strada degli Eroi is a challenging mountain road located in Italy. It was built in 1922, after the First World War, to equip the summit area of the mountain.

Croce Domini Pass is a sensational drive in the Italian Alps

Passo di Croce Domini is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.892m (6,207ft) above sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy.

Driving the Kaiserjagerstrasse-Monterovere to Menador Pass

Menador is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,269m (4,163ft) above sea level, located in the Autonomous Province of Trento in Italy. The road to the summit is a very challenging drive, not for beginners.

The climb to Monte Zoncolan is even harder than it sounds

Monte Zoncolan is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.732m (5,682ft) above sea level, located in the province of Udine in Italy. This savage mountain pass hits a 23% of maximum gradient.

A journey through the legendary Strada degli Scarubbi

Strada degli Scarubbi is a challenging mountain road located on the boundary between the Veneto and Trentino-South Tyrol regions, in Italy. Built during the First World War, the road is closed to private vehicles.

Pordoi Pass is one of the highest roads of the Dolomites

Passo Pordoi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.242m (7,355ft) above sea level, located in Italy. It's said to be the second highest surfaced road traversing a pass in the Dolomites, beyond Sella Pass.

Gardena Pass in the Dolomites is an absolute must for road lovers

Passo Gardena is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.123m (6,965ft) above sea level, located in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, in South Tyrol, Italy.

A narrow mountain road to Passo delle Erbe

Passo delle Erbe is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.993m (6,538ft) above sea level, located in South Tyrol, in the Italian Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region.

Via Chiantigiana is a scenic road between Florence and Siena through Chianti country

Located in the heart of the central Italy’s Tuscany region, the Strada Regional 222 is a very scenic drive crossing vineyards, olive groves and picturesque small towns..

An old military dirt road to Monte Rite in the Dolomites

Monte Rite is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.168m (7,112ft) above sea level, located in the province of Belluno in the Italian region of Veneto.

Anfo Ridge Road is a pure Italian adventure

Located in the province of Brescia, in the Lombardy region of Italy, driving the infamous Anfo Ridge Road is a lifetime experience. This old military road is certainly breathtaking and has a fearsome reputation.

Muro di Sormano is one of the hardest and most epic climbs

Muro di Sormano is a short but devastatingly steep climb in Sormano, a municipality in the Province of Como, in Italy.This vertical wall is famous as one of the most severe of any road cycling race, featuring sections in excess of 27% grade. It’s one of the hardest and most epic climbs you can ride on two wheels.

Driving Strada dei Cannoni, a military mountain road in Italy

Strada dei Cannoni is a legendary military road located in the northern part of Italy, running across the high watershed between the Maira and Varaita valleys. The road is a masterpiece of alpine engineering, climbing from 680m to 2,287m (7,503ft) above sea level through some of the most dramatic landscapes in the Province of Cuneo.

Take the Brutal Via del Sole and Discover Punta Veleno

Punta Veleno is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.171m (3,841ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Verona in the Italian region of Veneto. The terrible narrow road to the summit has 21 hairpin turns (all numbered) and hits a 25% of maximum gradient. Why such roads are built is difficult to understand; why you go up by bike, is perhaps a case for trained psychologists.