The drive along Italy's Amalfi Coast is known as the best drive in the world. There are dozens of epic road trip routes in this country. The countryside here was made for exploring by road, and stopping every few hundred yards to take another photo.
Italy has an extensive network of well-maintained roads that weave between snow-capped peaks, trace plunging coastlines, and meander through rolling farmland and vineyards to scenic lakes and historic towns.
We chose six classic road trips, ranging from gentle Tuscany jaunts to hair-raising mountain adventures. They all make for great experiences.
Discover the world's most intriguing experiences with our weekly newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.The distance from Florence to Orvieto is approximately 200 km/130 miles.
Taking in two of Italy's great medieval cities, the wine treasures of Chianti, and swathes of classic Tuscany, this two-day route leads from Florence to Orvieto. Fine art and Renaissance architecture in Florence will whet your appetite for the road ahead.
The Enoteca Falorni is located in Greve and L'Antica Macelleria Cecchini is located in Panzano. Siena is a stunning medieval city with an awe-inspiring Duomo and a 12th century square. The Pensione PalazzoRavizza is a recommended overnight option.
One of the most revered red wines in Italy is Brunello di Montalcino. The Val d'Orcia is a scenic area with green hills, cypress trees and hill towns. Orvieto is a hilltop town known for its Gothic Duomo. Adding an additional overnight stop to explore the region would be beneficial.
The distance from Catania to Ragusa is approximately 165 km/ 103 miles.
On this two-day tour of Sicily's rugged southeast, you'll find Unesco- listed baroque treasures. Start by looking at the amazing fish market. You can visit the ancient Greco-Roman ruins at the Parco Archeologico della Neapolis if you go after a seafood lunch. The stylish Hotel Gutkowski is where I stayed overnight.
One of Sicily's most beautiful streets is Noto, which is home to churches and charming cafes. Modica is a bustling town wedged into a deep canyon and is located inland. If you want to get to Ragusa and the historic center, you need to stock up on the town's famous chocolates first. One of Sicily's top restaurants is the Ristorante Duomo.
One day, the distance from Salerno to Sorrento is approximately 75 km/46 miles.
You can experience Italy's most spectacular coastal scenery on this drive. Try to come out of season to avoid traffic. Vietri sul Mare is a small town famous for its ceramics and the starting point of the coastal road. The views become more dramatic as the road narrows and the curves become tighter.
The main hub of the coast is Amalfi, after about 20 km. Go up to the hills above and see the Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea. The town's lush gardens are a great place to see heady panoramas from the lunch counter.
Positano is a chic, near- vertical town with colorful, steeply-stacked houses. Beyond Positano, the route leads inland, up and across the hilly interior to Sorrento, a lively tourist hub overlooked by the dark, brooding bulk of Mount Vesuvius. You can get to Naples via the ruins of Pompeii.
The Bolzano–Cortina d'Ampezzo is approximately 125 km.
Some of Italy's most exciting driving can be found at the Grande Strada della DoLOMiti. It snakes past craggy, saw-tooth peaks and over lofty mountain passes on its way to Cortina d' Ampezzo.
You can see the Dolomite's mighty granite peaks from Ponte Nova. The valley is framed by forested slopes and huge rock summits. The descent from here is not very fast but you will be rewarded with amazing views as you go down to La Villa.
Superb winter skiing and hiking can be found here. If you want to go for a more relaxed trip, you can stop for the night at the Dolomit B&B and take some scenic detours around La Villa on the second day.
The distance from Como to Bergamo is approximately 112 km/ 70 miles.
Lake Como is the most picturesque of Italy's northern lakes. The best time to drive is in April and May when the area is awash with spring color.
The town of Como is the obvious place to start. You can take the road up to Bellagio once you've explored the historic center. You can visit the grounds of Villa Melzi d'Eril and eat lunch at Terrazza Barchetta.
You can take a ferry to the home of the 17th-century Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo.
One day, Rome–Sulmona is a distance of about 200 km.
The region of Abruzzo is a world apart from the big city, with untamed valleys and unspoiled mountain landscapes. Campo Imperatore is a hill overlooking the Apennines' highest peak, Corno Grande.
Santo Stefano di Sessanio is a semi-abandoned village in the Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso. You can pick up picnic supplies in the village if you want to eat lunch at the Locanda Sotto gliArchi.
The town of Sulmona is located in the shadows of the Morrone massif. The Legacy Casa Residencia is a good place to stay if you want to explore the region's rugged southern reaches and fill up on food at local restaurants. If you want to explore the surrounding hills by car or on foot, you should spend a day or more in Sulmona.
The article was first published about a year ago.
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