The mind-bending and heart-racing twists and turns of some of the roads that wind through the Alps have popped up on movie and television screens and again and again throughout the years, prompting both fear and excitement in viewers. For some, these images make people want to immediately pack their bags and go careening down these scenic and challenging roads on a bicycle or in a car themselves. Others never want to have to try and traverse them in their entire lives. If you fall into the former category and you are a bit of a daredevil, then one of the most extreme and thrilling of these roads that must be visited and experienced is, without a doubt, the Stelvio Pass in South Tyrol. With lots of excellent hiking, skiing, winter sports, and exploring options and pursuits also available in the area, a villa in South Tyrol and a vacation in this part of Italy, in general, will definitely ensure that your next holiday is a real adventure. However, if you're interested in the Stelvio Pass, in particular, then be sure to read on...
Located in northern Italy, on the border with Switzerland (in fact, the border is just 200m away!) the Stelvio Pass is an alpine mountain pass in the Ortler Alps that connects the Valtellina with the mid Venosta valley and Meran. Originally built between 1820 and 1825 by the Austrian Empire to connect the former Austrian province of Lombardy with the rest of Austria, according to designs by Carlo Donegani the road has been repaired and altered since its construction but has changed very little in the intervening years. Made up of some 75 thrilling hairpin turns, this incredible road is the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps and the second highest in the Alps at large, after France's Col de l'Iseran. With nearby mountains including the Ortler, Thurwieserspitze, Trafoier Eiswand, Monte Scorluzzo, Piz Umbrail, and Piz Cotschen, there is a large summer skiing area adjacent to the Stelvio Pass and it is an excellent destination for those looking for a variety of outdoor pursuits, fun, and adventure.
The Stelvio Pass itself, however, is the most important attraction in the area for many thrill-seekers who enjoy racing anything on wheels. Open from May through November, the road attracts cyclists and motorcyclists from all over the world each year and is often crossed by riders in the Giro D'Italia. It is also closed to motor traffic one day a year in late August when some 8,000 cyclists and around 25 runners take over and run to the top of the Stelvio Pass. Drivers also flock to experience a jaunt on the road, though slightly more caution is recommended on those hairpin turns in a car! The Stelvio Pass is such an iconic driving route, in fact, that it was named the, "greatest driving road in the world,” by the beloved British automotive show, Top Gear during their 10th series. While this title was later given to the Transfăgărășan Highway in Romania by the show, it still remains a picturesque and thrilling stretch of road that any serious car-lover who has found a vacation rental in South Tyrol and is spending time exploring the area will enjoy checking out for themselves. For those who have fantasies about renting a beloved classic Italian car or a their own dream car and driving around the stunning landscape of Italy, it is definitely one of the must-see routes to take note of.
If you're mad about cycling, cars, road running, or ridiculously scenic spots and you can stomach the dramatic turns of the Stelvio Pass then we highly recommend browsing our villas in South Tyrol and coming to see this extraordinary stretch of road for yourself!
The Stelvio Pass itself, however, is the most important attraction in the area for many thrill-seekers who enjoy racing anything on wheels. Open from May through November, the road attracts cyclists and motorcyclists from all over the world each year and is often crossed by riders in the Giro D'Italia. It is also closed to motor traffic one day a year in late August when some 8,000 cyclists and around 25 runners take over and run to the top of the Stelvio Pass. Drivers also flock to experience a jaunt on the road, though slightly more caution is recommended on those hairpin turns in a car! The Stelvio Pass is such an iconic driving route, in fact, that it was named the, "greatest driving road in the world,” by the beloved British automotive show, Top Gear during their 10th series. While this title was later given to the Transfăgărășan Highway in Romania by the show, it still remains a picturesque and thrilling stretch of road that any serious car-lover who has found a vacation rental in South Tyrol and is spending time exploring the area will enjoy checking out for themselves. For those who have fantasies about renting a beloved classic Italian car or a their own dream car and driving around the stunning landscape of Italy, it is definitely one of the must-see routes to take note of.
If you're mad about cycling, cars, road running, or ridiculously scenic spots and you can stomach the dramatic turns of the Stelvio Pass then we highly recommend browsing our villas in South Tyrol and coming to see this extraordinary stretch of road for yourself!
Photo credit: Steffs88 / CC BY-SA 4.0
