Gole del Saggitario is a scenic canyon road dug into the cliffs of the Apennines

Sagittarius Gorges is a scenic gorge located in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The road through the gorges is extremely challenging yet scenic, with great views of the Apennines.

Gole del Saggitario

Where is Gole del Saggitario?

The gorges are located in the province of L'Aquila, in the central part of the country, tucked away in the Apennines mountain range.

When was the road through Sagittarius Gorges built?

The first road through the gorges, an old mule trail, was crossed by a column of French soldiers in January 1799. The road was approved on June 26, 1844, and the works started in 1890, built by the engineer Antonio Lepito Chioti di Popoli on behalf of the province. It was a daring and ambitious work.

How long is the road through the Sagittarius Gorges?

The road is entirely paved. It’s called Strada Regionale 479 (SR479). It’s 15.9 km (9,87 miles) long, running north-south from Anversa degli Abruzzi to Scanno.

How challenging is the road through the Sagittarius Gorges?

The road is very challenging as it follows the meanders of the river through open spaces, strewn with rock rubble, through fissures so narrow that there is only room for the river and a narrow passage. The road runs through the narrowest point of the gorges: a true masterpiece of road engineering. The risk is getting distracted while driving because the view is splendid, but the road is very narrow and does not allow any distractions. Drive slowly as the winding road is full of all kinds of vehicles, even trucks.

What’s Galleria Foce Giardino?

Galleria Foce Giardino is one of the highlights of the drive. It’s a one-lane tunnel set high above the gorge. It’s 94m long.
Road suggested by: jorge manuel gómez sánchez