Driving the road to Colletto Pramand in the Alps is not a piece of cake

# Colletto Pramand: A High-Alpine Adventure

Want to experience some serious Alpine driving? Colletto Pramand sits pretty at 2,145m (7,037ft) in the Turin region of northwestern Italy, and getting there is half the fun—if you've got the right vehicle for the job.

The magic happens on Via dei Saraceni, an old military track that's been around since 1886. This isn't your typical mountain road—it's a genuine 4x4-only adventure that stretches over 20km almost entirely above 2,000 meters. Expect tons of tight hairpins, tunnels carved right into the rock, and that classic military engineering vibe that feels like you're driving through history.

Once you crest the summit, you'll find Fort Pramand, a beautifully weathered WWI fortification built back in 1905. The fort sits just off the main pass near the fascinating Galleria dei Saraceni, with rough tracks and hairpins leading up to the grassy esplanade at the top.

The terrain itself is manageable—the grade stays under 12% and the track averages about 3 meters wide—but don't let that fool you. Rocky sections and the occasional rockfall mean this route demands respect, especially when weather rolls in. Bad visibility? Skip it. Good conditions? You're in for a treat as the road winds past several historic forts on its way up to legendary peaks like Monte Jafferau and Monte Seguret.

Head up between May and October when conditions allow. This is serious off-road territory in the heart of the Italian Alps, and it's absolutely worth the challenge.