Italy, Piedmont, Italy
One of the Alps' highest paved passes, remote and narrow near the French border.
Length
20 km
In miles
12.4 mi
Driving time
30 min
Atlas rating
9.0 / 10
The run
Pontechianale to Chateau-Ville-Vieille, following the SP105. Drive it in either direction, though the views usually favour the climb.
Season
Closed roughly October to June
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Every road in the library carries a driving and scenery score set by the same method. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 28 June 2026
Nearby
4 km away
Col Agnel
Remote high altitude pass to the Italian frontier with tight ribbons and stark empty scenery.
25 km away
Col d'Izoard
Hairpins through larch forest give way to the lunar Casse Deserte, a surreal high altitude finale.
26 km away
Col de Vars
A gentler Alpine link road with sweeping meadows between two harder edged giants.
42 km away
Colle delle Finestre
A gravel topped final stretch of tight hairpins made famous by the Giro d'Italia.
42 km away
Col de la Bonette
A looping summit road above 2800 metres that circles the peak itself for maximum theatre.
45 km away
Col de la Cayolle
A quiet pastoral pass with a gorge finale through the narrow Gorges du Bachelard.
Drive here from
Plan around it
Curated drives
Italy, Dolomites
The Great Dolomites Drive
Four legendary passes strung between limestone cathedrals, the definitive alpine day.
Italy, Italian Alps
Stelvio Pass
Forty-eight numbered hairpins stacked like a staircase into the sky.
Italy, Lake Garda
Lake Garda Mountain Loop
Gardesana corniche tunnels, then a climb into olive terraces above the water.
A to B journeys
4 days
London to Lake Garda
The classic run south from England to the Italian lakes, taken the long way through the Alps rather than straight down the autoroute.
4 days
London to The Dolomites
The best pass driving in Europe sits at the end of this one, reached through Germany and Austria rather than Switzerland.
2 days
Munich to Lake Como
A short journey with an outrageous amount of great road packed into it, including the Stelvio if the season allows.
Longer journeys
4h 15m
The Great Dolomites Drive
Four legendary passes strung between limestone cathedrals, the definitive alpine day.
1h 30m
Stelvio Pass
Forty-eight numbered hairpins stacked like a staircase into the sky.
3h 20m
Lake Garda Mountain Loop
Gardesana corniche tunnels, then a climb into olive terraces above the water.