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.

Strada provinciale 227 di Portofino

Driving the Exhilarating SP 227 di Portofino on the Italian Riviera Coastline

Located in the province of Genoa, in Italy, Strada Provinciale 227 di Portofino (SP 227) is one of the world's best coastal drives.

Colle della Boaria

Colle della Boaria is a challenging drive in the Cottian Alps

Col de la Boaire-Colle della Boaria is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.102m (6,896ft) above sea level, located on the border of France and Italy.

Passo del Dosso Alto/Passo delle Portole

Dosso Alto Pass: enjoy a road among the clouds

Passo del Dosso Alto is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.727m (5,666ft) 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. 

Muro di Guardiagrele

Muro di Guardiagrele is one of Italy's steepest roads

Muro di Guardiagrele is a piece of road located in Guardiagrele, a town in the province of Chieti, in Italy. At its steepest, near the bottom, it hits a 30% of gradient.

SS18 from Sapri to Acquafredda

SS18 from Sapri to Acquafredda, an Italian road for James Bond

Spanning the Campania and Basilicata regions of Italy, the iconic Strada Statale 18 from Sapri to Acquafredda is one of the most beautiful drives in the world. The road has been featured in movies, high-end auto commercials, and advertisements.

Tunnel du Mont-Blanc

Tunnel du Mont-Blanc is an Engineering Marvel Connecting France and Italy in the Alps

The Tunnel du Mont-Blanc, located on the French-Italian border within the Alps, is one of the most significant engineering feats of the 20th century. The tunnel runs beneath Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe.

Colle Lazzara

The Road to Colle Lazzara Is Not Recommended If You Don’t Know How to Reverse

Colle Lazzara is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,595 m (5,232 ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Torino, in Italy.

Sella Ciampigotto

A narrow winding road to Sella Ciampigotto

Sella Ciampigotto is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.830m (6,003ft) above sea level, straddling Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions of Italy.

Passo del Cason di Lanza

Driving the curvy and narrow road to Cason di Lanza Pass in the Alps

Passo del Cason di Lanza is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.552m (5,091ft) above the sea level, located in Udine, a province in the autonomous Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, bordering Austria. The final 6km hit gradients of up to 16%. 

Passo di Valparola

Valparola Pass is an iconic Giro d'Italia climb

Passo di Valparola is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,168m (7,113ft) above sea level, located in the province of Belluno, in Italy.

Passo Ravenola

Ravenola Pass is an adventure road you'll never forget

Passo Ravenola is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.072m (6,797ft) above sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Italy. The road through the summit is the spectacular SP345B.

Valle di Saint-Barthélemy

Saint-Barthelemy is a classic road trip in the Italian Alps

Saint-Barthélemy is a high mountain town at an elevation of 1,647m (5,403ft) above sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region of Italy.

Colle del Garezzo

Driving the legendary Via del Sale road to Colle del Garezzo

Colle del Garezzo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.795m (5,889ft) above sea level, located in the mountainous and hilly province of Imperia, in the Liguria region of Italy. 

Colle Blegier

Travel guide to the top of Colle Blegier

Colle Blegier is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,381m (7,811ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Torino, Italy. It’s the fourth pass on the Assietta Road.

Rifugio Madriccio

How to drive the unpaved road to Madriccio Refuge in South Tyrol

Rifugio Madriccio-Madrisch Hütte is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2,828 m (9,278 ft) above sea level, located in South Tyrol, Italy.

Monte Cesén

A narrow paved road to the top of Monte Cesen

Monte Cesen da Valdobbiadene is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.504m (4,934ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Treviso of Italy.

Dosso dei Galli

Dosso dei Galli: a road on top of the mountains

Dosso dei Galli is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.188m (7,178ft) above sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Italy. The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B.

Schlüsseljoch

Driving the old military road to Schlusseljoch in South Tyrol

Schlüsseljoch is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,212m (7,257ft) above sea level, located in the Zillertal Alps. Situated in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano (South Tyrol) in northern Italy, it lies very close to the Austrian border.

Colle Margherina

Driving the Unpaved Road to Margherina Pass

Colle Margherina is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,420m (7,939ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, in Italy.

Sebina Occidentale

Sebina Occidentale-SP469: One of Italy's Most Scenic Roads

Sebina Occidentale is one of Italy's most scenic and challenging roads. Located in the province of Bergamo, the road runs along the western shore of Lake Iseo, the fourth-largest lake in the region. It's a beautiful route from Sarnico to Lovere, passing through the narrow streets of picturesque coastal towns.

Pian del Re

The Challenging Road to Pian del Re in the Cottian Alps

Pian del Re is a high mountain plateau at an elevation of 2,020m (6,627ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, in Italy.

Galleria di Rosazza

Galleria di Rosazza is a Narrow, Damp, and Dark Tunnel in Piedmont

Galleria di Rosazza is a frightening, unlit tunnel at an elevation of 1,497m (4,911ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Biella, in the northern Italian region of Piedmont.

Colle di Sampeyre

How to drive to Colle di Sampeyre in the Cottian Alps?

Colle di Sampeyre is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,284m (7,493ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. It is one of the highest paved passes in the Cottian Alps, famous for its dramatic drops and stunning alpine scenery.

Passo del Pura

Driving the defiant Via San Valentino to Pura Pass

Passo del Pura is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.445m (4,740ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Udine, in Italy.

Punta Sa Berritta-Mount Limbara

An awe-inspiring road to Punta Sa Berritta in Sardinia

Punta Sa Berritta is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1,362m (4,469ft) above sea level, located in the Gallura region of Sardinia, in Italy.

Campo Imperatore

An Iconic Paved Road to the Historic Campo Imperatore

Campo Imperatore is a high mountain plateau at an elevation of 2,167m (7,109ft) above sea level, located in the province of L'Aquila, Italy.

Passo d’Alpisella

Is the road to Alpisella Pass one of the best 4x4 tracks in the Livigno Range?

Passo d’Alpisella (also known as Passo di Valle Alpisella) is a high-mountain pass reaching an elevation of 2,285m (7,497ft) above sea level. Located in the Sondrio province of Lombardy, Northern Italy, this rugged track sits near the Swiss border and offers a stunning crossing through the heart of the Alps.

Rifugio Fodara Vedla

The Inhumane Climb to Fodara Vedla Refuge with 27% Ramps

Rifugio Fodara Vedla is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1,980 m (6,496 ft) above sea level, located in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano in Italy. It is said to be the steepest climb in the Alps.

Furkelpass-Passo Furcia

A Delightful Yet Challenging Road to Passo Furcia in the Alps

Passo Furcia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,789m (5,869 ft) above sea level, located in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, in Italy.

Passo Duran

Duran Pass is an Iconic Giro d'Italia Climb

Passo Duran is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,601m (5,253ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Belluno, in Italy.

Passo di Vizze

Vizze Pass: An Awe-Inspiring Route in the Zillertal Alps

Passo di Vizze-Pfitscherjoch is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,276 m (7,467 ft) above sea level, located on the border of Italy and Austria.

Sant'Anna di Vinadio

How to Get to Sant'Anna di Vinadio in Cuneo, the Highest Sanctuary in Europe by Car?

Sant'Anna di Vinadio is a high mountain sanctuary dedicated to Sant’Anna and Gioacchino, the parents of Mary, located at an elevation of 2,000m (6,600ft) above sea level in the Province of Cuneo, in Italy.

Passo del Dasdana

A Most Tricky Scenic Road to Dasdana Pass

Passo del Dasdana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,086m (6,843ft) above sea level, located in the province of Brescia, Italy. The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B Road.

Bivacco Carmagnola

A daunting unpaved road to Bivacco Carmagnola

Bivacco Carmagnola is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.840m (9,317ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in Italy.

Colla d’Onzo

A Grueling Unpaved Road to the Summit of Colla d’Onzo

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

Passo della Gardetta

An Old Military Unpaved Road to Gardetta Pass in the Cottian Alps

Passo della Gardetta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,442m (8,011ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, in Italy.