Stelvio Pass

The Stelvio Pass is the road every driving enthusiast eventually drives. Forty-eight numbered hairpins stack the north ramp from Prato allo Stelvio like switchbacks on a topographic map, climbing to 2,757 metres — the second-highest paved pass in the Alps and the benchmark every other road is measured against.

The reality is more interesting than the poster. The Prato side is the photograph: tight, relentless, uncompromising. The Bormio side is arguably the better drive: faster flow, long sightlines, and a gradient that lets a properly sorted sports car actually breathe. Come in from Switzerland via the Umbrail Pass and you get a quieter approach with the same spectacular finish.

Expect traffic. Stelvio is a bucket-list road for motorcyclists, cyclists, and coach tours; summer weekends are punishing. Drive early — be at Prato for first light — or come mid-week in early September when schools are back and the pass has another six weeks of reliable opening. The surface is generally good, though the cold-weather transitions at the summit can be rough and a few hairpins have awkward camber that will catch a lowered car if you hit them hot.

The summit itself is a carnival: souvenir stalls, bratwurst, and a thousand photos a minute. That's fine. Stop, have a coffee, let the brakes recover, then drive the Bormio side properly. Most people only drive the north ramp, turn around, and queue back down. Drive the full length and you'll understand why Stelvio still matters.

Best paired with Umbrail Pass and Gavia for a full day in the Ortler group.