Plöcken Pass-Passo di Monte Croce Carnico is an absolute must for road lovers

# Plöckenpass-Passo di Monte Croce Carnico

Tucked away in the stunning Carnic Alps, this 1,370-meter (4,494ft) pass straddles the Austria-Italy border like a natural gateway between worlds. It connects the Italian Province of Udine in Friuli-Venezia Giulia with the Austrian district of Spittal an der Drau in Carinthia—a route that's been bringing travelers together since medieval times, when merchants used it as part of the trade route between Aquileia and Salzburg.

The 60-kilometer (37-mile) road stretching from Tolmezzo, Italy to Oberdrauburg, Austria is completely paved (Strada Statale 52bis on the Italian side, Bundesstraße 110 on the Austrian), but don't let that fool you—this isn't a leisurely cruise. Expect twelve hairpin turns and four tunnels that'll keep you on your toes, with grades hitting up to 13% in some places. The drive down toward Italy is absolutely thrilling, though watch out for narrow sections and the occasional rockfall risk. Most drivers tackle it in 1 to 1.5 hours, and the good news? It stays open year-round.

The pass is basically an open-air history book. Remnants of WWI fortifications—bunkers, tunnels, and trenches—are scattered throughout, and there's even a museum at the summit showcasing restored structures. The name itself is a throwback to medieval times, when it was called Kreuzberg (Monte Crucis), which evolved into its current Italian name.