Where is Strada delle Vette?
Italy, europe
6 km
1,991 m
hard
Year-round
Get ready for the Strada Panoramica delle Vette in Italy's Friuli-Venezia Giulia region – it's seriously epic!
You'll find this road in the Province of Udine, way up north near the Austrian border.
Clocking in at 30 km (around 19 miles), it winds from Ravascletto (perfect for summer or winter getaways) to Tualis. Most of it's paved, but there's a 6 km stretch of dirt to keep things interesting. This road was built in the early 40s and gained fame from a Giro d’Italia stage.
Without stops, you're looking at a 1-2 hour drive, but trust me, you'll WANT to stop! The views are incredible, so take your time, especially since the speed limit is just 30 km/h.
Perched high in the Carnic Alps, part of the Dolomites, this road supposedly hits the highest elevation open to vehicles in Friuli, topping out at 1,991m (6,532ft). Heads up – it's usually closed in the winter. And definitely skip it if the weather's nasty.
This drive is not for the faint of heart. Expect hairpin turns – like, 40 of them! – crazy drop-offs, and seriously narrow sections. Drive slow and hope you don't meet anything coming the other way. It's pretty much a single lane, so be aware!
Leave your big SUVs and campers at home, seriously. The turns are tight, the road's steep (think 12-18% grades, with some ramps hitting 20%), and there's nowhere to hide if a storm rolls in. Honk your horn on blind turns – it could save you!
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 6 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,991 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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