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.

Galleria dei Saraceni

Discovering the secrets of Galleria dei Saraceni, a high-altitude tunnel in Piedmont

Galleria dei Saraceni is a high-altitude tunnel at an elevation of 2,224m (7,296ft) above sea level, located in the Piedmont region of Italy.

Colle dell'Agnello

Agnel Pass is one of the European highest paved roads

Col Agnel-Colle dell'Agnello is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.744m (9,003ft) above sea level located on the French-Italian border.

Rifugio Auronzo

How to drive to Auronzo Refuge in the Dolomites?

Rifugio Auronzo is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.340m (7,677ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between the Trentino-South Tyrol and Veneto regions in Italy.

Col de St-Pantaléon

A steep scenic road to Colle di Saint-Panthaleon in Italy

Col de St-Pantaléon is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.676m (5,498ft) above sea level, located in the Valle d'Aosta autonomous region of Italy.

Theodulpass

Conquering Theodul Pass on the Swiss-Italian Border

Theodulpass is an international high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.336m (10,944ft) above sea level, located on the border of Switzerland and Italy. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Vecchia Strada della Fricca

Exploring the abandoned military Vecchia Strada della Fricca in Trentino-Alto Adige

Vecchia Strada della Fricca is an old, abandoned road located in the northern Italian region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It's a true gem of military architecture. The road has a high risk of falling rocks.

Strada Prato-Uccea

The Challenging Road from Prato to Uccea via the Historic Sella Carnizza Pass

Sella Carnizza is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,123 m (3,684 ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Udine, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy.

Passo Tre Croci

Exploring Passo Tre Croci: A Scenic Road Through the Dolomites

Passo Tre Croci is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.811m (5,941ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Belluno, in the Veneto region of Italy.

Monte San Simeone

A narrow road with 28 hairpin turns and 9 tunnels to Monte San Simeone

Monte San Simeone is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1,208 m (3,963 ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Udine, in Italy. There's space for a single car, with no guardrails, and hairpin turns in tunnels where you can't see the other end.

Passo di Mortirolo

Mortirolo Pass: A Five-Star Road Through the Italian Alps

Passo di Mortirolo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,878m (6,161ft) above sea level straddling Brescia and Sondrio provinces of Italy. This legendary ascent is one of the most grueling challenges in professional cycling, having been featured repeatedly in the Giro d'Italia stage race.

Passo di Foscagno

The Road to Foscagno Pass: The Ultimate Alpine Driving Adventure

Passo di Foscagno is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,308m (7,572ft) above sea level, located in the province of Sondrio, in the Lombardy region of Italy.

Colle di Chavannes

Driving a military road to Colle di Chavannes in Valle d’Aosta

Colle di Chavannes is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.608m (8,556ft) above sea level, located in Valle d’Aosta region of Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Colle d’Ancoccia

Driving the unpaved military road to Colle d’Ancoccia in Piedmont

Colle d’Ancoccia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.533m (8,310ft) above sea level, located in the province of Cuneo, on the far south west of the region of Piedmont, in Italy.

Passo di Falzarego

Falzarego Pass is a road with 38 sharp hairpin bends

Passo di Falzarego is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,105m (6,906ft) above sea level, located in the province of Belluno, in the Veneto region of Italy.

Strada Statale 125 Orientale Sarda

Traveling through the scenic Strada Statale 125 Orientale Sarda

Located on the eastern coast of the Italian region of Sardinia, Strada Statale 125 Orientale Sarda is one of the most beautiful roads in Europe.

Passo del Maniva

The winding road to Maniva Pass in the Alps and its 38 iconic hairpin turns

Passo del Maniva is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,664m (5,459ft) above sea level, located in the Brescia province of Lombardy, in Italy. This pass offers a picturesque drive through the Italian Alps.

Strada Statale 1 Via Aurelia (SS 1)

Is Strada Statale 1 Via Aurelia (SS 1) worth the drive?

The Strada Statale 1 Via Aurelia (SS 1) is a historic trade route running along the Italian coastline from central Italy to southern France. Derived from the ancient Roman road built in 241 BC by Gaius Aurelius Cotta, it remains one of the most significant state highways in the country and a legendary route for drivers today.

Lago Serrù

Driving the curvy road to Serru Lake in the Alps

Lago Serrù is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.275m (7,464ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Turin within the Piedmont region of Italy.

Rifugio Sapienza

A Paved Road to Rifugio Sapienza on Mount Etna

Rifugio Sapienza is a high mountain refuge situated at an elevation of 1,935 meters (6,348 feet) above sea level, located in the Metropolitan City of Catania, in Italy.

Rifugio Piccolo Pirovano

A Road Up the Rifugio Piccolo Pirovano in Italy

Rifugio Piccolo Pirovano is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 3.018m (9,901ft) above sea level, located in the Italian province of Sondrio. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Testa Grigia

The wild road to Testa Grigia in the Alps

Testa Grigia is an international high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.471m (11,387ft) above sea level, located on the border of Switzerland and Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Passo di Monte Giovo

Monte Giovo Pass is a 5-star road in the Italian Alps

Passo di Monte Giovo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.094m (6,870ft) above sea level, located in the South Tyrol province of Italy.

Giogo della Bala

A challenging narrow road to Giogo della Bala in the Alps

Giogo della Bala is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.129m (6,984ft) above sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. 

Autostrada dei Fiori

Autostrada dei Fiori: A Stunning Coastal Road from Genoa to Nice

Autostrada A10 is one of the most challenging yet scenic highways in northern Italy. You’ll find yourself constantly distracted by the beautiful coastal views.

Forcella d’Entova

What you need to know about the 4x4 track to Forcella d’Entova

Forcella d’Entova is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.802m (9,192ft) above sea level located in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy.

Monte Saccarello

An epic enthralling road to Monte Saccarello

Monte Saccarello-Mont Saccarel is an international high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.178m (7,145ft) above sea level, located on the French-Italian border.

Passo San Marco

Road trip guide: Conquering the paved San Marco Pass

Passo San Marco is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,985m (6,512ft) above sea level, located in the Italian region of Lombardy.

Via Provinciale Anacapri

Via Provinciale Anacapri is a narrow coastal road on Capri

Via Provinciale Anacapri is a challenging coastal road situated on the island of Capri in the southern part of Italy.

Forcola di Livigno

A 5-star road to Forcola di Livigno Pass in the Alps

Livigno Pass-Forcola di Livigno Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,315m (7,595ft) above sea level, located on the border between Switzerland and Italy.

Passo di Pennes

Pennes Pass is a classic Italian road trip

Passo di Pennes is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,211m (7,254ft) above sea level, located in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region of Italy.

Passo Stalle

Passo Stalle: Driving the narrow border road between Italy and Austria

Passo Stalle (also known as Staller Saddle) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,061m (6,761ft) above sea level, located on the border between Austria and Italy. This alpine crossing links the Defereggen Valley in East Tyrol (Austria) with the Valle di Anterselva in South Tyrol (Italy), offering a unique driving experience through the High Tauern range.

Cima Grappa

Cima Grappa is a classic road of Giro d'Italia

Cima Grappa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,775m (5,769ft) above sea level, straddling the provinces of Treviso, Vicenza, and Belluno in Italy. At the top is the Sacrario Militare del Monte Grappa, a monumental burial site for soldiers killed on both sides of World War I.

Monte Chaberton

Monte Chaberton: Get behind the wheels for one of the planet’s most challenging trips

Monte Chaberton is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.131m (10,272ft) above sea level, located in the department of Hautes-Alpes, in France. The summit features a fortress with remnants of a WWI & WWII artillery battery. It's one of the highest roads in Europe.

Serrai di Sottoguda

The breathtaking road through Serrai di Sottoguda in the Dolomites

Located in the middle of the Dolomites, in the Italian Belluno province, the road running along the Serrai di Sottoguda gorge is one of the narrowest roads in the world. The Sottoguda gorge is closed to traffic; only pedestrians and cyclists are allowed.

Cala Gonone

A road with several dizzying hairpin bends to Cala Gonone

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

Passo della Mulattiera

The mule track to the top of Passo della Mulattiera

Passo della Mulattiera is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,412m (7,913ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Turin, in the Piedmont region of Italy.