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.

Stelvio Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.757m (9,045ft) above sea level, located in northern Italy. It's one of the highest roads of Europe. The road to the summit is a marvel of engineering, with 60 hairpin turns. All in all, this could be the most magnificent road pass in Europe. 

The popular Amalfi Coast route follows the shoreline from Sorrento south to Salerno, in Italy. Locals recommend planning a drive of the Amalfi Coast during the shoulder tourist seasons, mid-September to October and May, when the road is less crowded and lumbering tour buses are fewer. It's one of the best coastal drives in the world. Picturesque Amalfi has been featured in films for as long as cameras have rolled at 24 frames per second.

Strada della Forra is one of the most scenic drives in the world. This Italian road burrows its way through the mountain in the ravine formed by the river Brasa. 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.

Strada delle 52 Gallerie (Road of 52 Galleries) is a military trail built during World War I on the massif of Pasubio in Italy. The track was constructed in this position to stay away from Austro-Hungarian artillery fire, with its pinnacles, deep canyons, and sheer rock faces.

Passo di San Boldo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 712m (2,335ft) above sea level, located in the province of Treviso, in Italy. The road to the summit is an engineering masterpiece with 18 hairpin turns and 6 tunnels. It’s one of the famous hairpinned roads in the world.

Splügen Pass is an international high mountain pass, at an elevation of 2,121m (6,958ft) above sea level, located on the border of Switzerland and Italy. Hairpins and great views make this one to see and drive. It's one of the highest paved roads in the Alps.

Passo di Gavia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,627m (8,618ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between the provinces of Sondrio and Brescia in the region of Lombardy, in Italy. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Forcella Lavardet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,547m (5,075ft) above sea level, located in the province of Belluno, in the Italian region of Veneto. The climb features 14 sharp hairpin turns that seem to lie on one another, gradually climbing up to the top of the pass. It’s one of the most famous hairpinned roads in the world.

Strada dell'Assietta is a military carriageway along the ridge that connects Pian dell’Alpe to Sestriere, in the Metropolitan City of Turin, in northern Piedmont region of Italy.

Monte Jafferau is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,805m (9,202ft) above sea level, located in the Piedmont region of Italy. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Colle del Nivolet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.621m (8,599ft) above sea level, located in the northern part of Italy. It’s featured in The Italian Job film; the final bus crash scene probably being the most famous. It's one of the highest roads in Italy.

Via del Sale, also known as Route du Marguareis, Piste de l'Amitié, and Ligurische Grenzkammstrasse, is a legendary 4x4 road nestled in the heart of the Ligurian Alps in the northern part of Italy.

Scanuppia-Malga Palazzo is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.571m (5,154ft) above sea level, located in Trentino, Italy. The road is brutally steep.

Located in southern Europe, Italy is a long peninsula shaped like a boot, surrounded on the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea and on the east by the Adriatic, extending into the Central Mediterranean Sea. The major part of Italy's mountain retreats also invite visitors to experience a wide array of cultural and outdoor activities each season. Italy's Alpine regions are some of the most magical destinations in Europe, and this trip takes you to the best lakes and mountains in the area.

Colle delle Finestre is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,203m (7,227ft) above sea level, located in the Italian region of Piemonte.

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.

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.

Col de Tende (Colle di Tenda) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,876m (6,154ft) above sea level, located on the border of France and Italy. If you like hairpin bends, this climb is a must. It's one of the most hairpinned roads in the world.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Timmelsjoch Pass, also known as Passo del Rombo, is an international high mountain pass located at an elevation of 2,479m (8,133ft) above sea level, on the border of Austria and Italy, just a few meters below the renowned Passo dello Stelvio, the Queen of alpine roads.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Umbrail Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,506m (8,221ft) above sea level, located on the Swiss-Italian border. At this elevation, the road to the summit is currently the highest paved road in Switzerland and one of the highest paved roads in the Alps.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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