What are the most spectacular roads in Italy?

In the heart of southern Europe, Italy stands tall as a country intricately woven with roads that are emblematic of its rich tapestry of history, unparalleled artistry, and nature's raw, untouched grandeur. To traverse Italy's roads is to embark upon an odyssey that tells tales from epochs gone by and teases with visions of scenic wonders.

Start the journey with the iconic Stelvio Pass, a masterpiece of engineering often hailed as Europe's ultimate driving challenge. As your wheels glide through its countless turns, you're granted front-row seats to the theatre of the Alps, where snow-capped peaks converse with azure skies. Next, set course for the Amalfi Coast Road, a mesmerizing stretch where the Tyrrhenian Sea's sapphire waves play hide and seek with quaint coastal hamlets, reminiscent of postcard-perfect landscapes.

The Strada della Forra, with its cinematic allure, paints a canvas of dramatic gorges and tunnels, forever etched in memories by James Bond's escapades. The towering Gavia Pass, on the other hand, is a silent ode to the majesty of the Italian Alps. As if that isn't enough, the San Boldo Pass astonishes with its intricate dance of 18 hairpin bends and five tunnels, each narrating tales of human ingenuity. Then, in the midst of these giants, the Splügen Pass offers another layer of Alpine wonder, beckoning travelers with its mix of verdant landscapes and historical charm.

Every road in Italy is not just a means of commute; it's a passage through time, a trail of legends, and a gallery of Earth's masterpieces. And as you journey through these pathways, you are not just covering distances; you're collecting tales, imbibing culture, and weaving memories of a lifetime.

Passo di Valparola is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.168m (7,113ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites in the province of Belluno in Italy.

Colle Margherina is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.420m (7,939ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region of Piedmont, about 100 km southwest of Turin and about 40 km west of Cuneo, on the border with France. 

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

Rifugio Madriccio-Madrisch Hütte is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.828m (9,278ft) above the sea level, located in the Ortler Alps in South Tyrol, Italy. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Brennergrenzkammstraße is an old high mountain military road located along the border between Italy and Austria.

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

Saint-Barthélemy is a high mountain town at an elevation of 1.647m (5,403ft) above the sea level, located in the Aosta Valley region in northwestern Italy.

Galleria di Rosazza is a scary unlit tunnel at an elevation of 1.497m (4,911ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Biella, in the northern Italian region of Piedmont.

Strada provinciale 227 di Portofino (SP 227) is one of the world's best coastal drives. It’s an exhilarating drive with stunning coastal scenery located in the province of Genoa, in Liguria, northern Italy.

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

Colle di Sampeyre is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,284m (7,493ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy. The pass connects the Varaita valley and the Maira valley.

Passo d’Alpisella is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.285m (7,497ft) above the sea level located in Lombardy (Italy).

Passo del Dasdana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.086m (6,843ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B.

Punta Sa Berritta (also known as Punta Balestreri) is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.362m (4,469ft) above the sea level, located in the Gallura region of northern Sardinia, Italy, in the province of Sassari.

Passo di Vizze (Pfitscherjoch) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.276m (7,467ft) above the sea level located on the border of Italy and Austria. Nestled in the Zillertal Alps, the pass links Tyrol, Austria, and South Tyrol, Italy.

Rifugio Fodara Vedla is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.980m (6,496ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites, a mountain range in northeastern Italy. It's said to be the steepest climb in the Alps.

Sant'Anna di Vinadio is a high mountain sanctuary dedicated to Sant’Anna and Gioacchino and to the parents of Mary, at an elevation of 2.000m (6,600ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont.

Sella dell’Auccia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.108m (6,916ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B.

Furkelpass-Passo Furcia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.789m (5,869 ft) above the sea level, located in the Pusteria valley, in South Tyrol, Italy.

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

Passo di Cimabanche is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.530m (5,029ft) above sea level, located in the Dolomites, a mountain range located in northeastern Italy.

Passo di Lavena is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.992m (6,535ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy.  The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B.

Located on the French-Italian border, in the Alps mountain range, the Mont Blanc Vehicular Tunnel is one of the biggest construction works of the 20th century.

Valico Poffa di Rondenino is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.012m (6,601ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy.  The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B.

Monte Corrasi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.463m (4,799ft) above the sea level, located in central-eastern Sardinia, Italy. There is little room for error on this extreme road climbing up the wildest and most remote mountain in the Mediterranean.

Sebina Occidentale is one of the Italian most scenic and challenging roads. Located in Bergamo, northern Italy, the road runs on the western side of Lake Iseo, the fourth largest lake in the zone. It's a beautiful road from Sarnico to Lovere. It passes through the narrow streets of coastal towns.

Passo di Vaia/Alpe di Vaia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.114m (6,935ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B.

Bivacco Carmagnola is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.840m (9,317ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Passo della Gardetta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.442m (8,011ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont.

Passo Duran  is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.601m (5,253ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites in the province of Belluno, Italy. The pass is traversed by the SP347 road.

Monte Padrio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.882m (6,174ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian region Lombardy.

Predel-Passo di Predil is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1.156m (3,793ft), located on the border between Italy and Slovenia.

Monte Seguret is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.204m (7,230ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. The road to the pass is called Via dei Saraceni.

Passo di Rondenino is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.040m (6,692ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy.  The pass is traversed by the challenging SP345B.

Francesco Petrarca Refuge (Stettiner Hütte) is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.875m (9,432 ft) above the sea level, located in South Tyrol, Italy. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Passo Cibiana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.535m (5,036ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno in the Veneto region of northern Italy.