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.
When Was Autostrada dei Fiori Built?
The road opened on November 6, 1971, and is an absolute masterpiece of human engineering, as it runs along very steep hillsides with numerous bridges, tunnels, and winding bends.
Is Autostrada dei Fiori Paved?
The road, also known as Fiori Autostrada or AutoFiori, is entirely paved and runs along the Ligurian Coast. Built directly by the coastline, it offers exceptional views of the sea.
Where Does Autostrada dei Fiori Start and End?
The highway stretches from Genoa to Ventimiglia, on the French border, and connects to the French A8 autoroute, which ends in Aix-en-Provence in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.
How Long is Autostrada dei Fiori?
Part of the European route E80, the highway spans 158.1 km (98.2 miles). Although equipped with guardrails and road markings, this route is often crowded with traffic as it’s the main corridor from Italy to southern France and Spain. With a large number of trucks and little room for error, it requires absolute concentration. Maintaining the average speed of 80-100 km/h is essential, as fatigue or loss of focus could lead to a severe accident.
How Challenging is Autostrada dei Fiori?
There are many speed restrictions along this highway for good reason. While the stunning views, 78 tunnels, dense traffic, sharp curves, and countless bridges make for an unforgettable drive, they also make it highly dangerous. Most of the road lacks a service lane, so if you experience technical issues, you may have to stop in the middle of this intense highway, increasing your risk. A tragic reminder of its challenges is the 2018 collapse of a section of the Ponte Morandi bridge, part of the A10, which resulted in the loss of 43 lives.
Road suggested by: Michael Spannlang