You could just head to the Dolomites or the Stelvio for your next Italian road trip. Or, you could try some lesser known roads for lovers of driving or riding that I have discovered (sometimes by accident). Don’t get me wrong, the above alluded-to passes are some of my favourite Italian roads but they can be very busy in the middle of the season. Maybe you won’t be anywhere near the Alps, and are looking for an interesting drive closer to where they actually speak Italian. (The Italian Alps are more Austrian in culture and language than Italian as they used to be in Austria. Yes, the Italian Alps used to be in Austria.)
There are many fantastic roads in the Apennines (the other Italian mountains, that ru through the heart of the country). One road I did indeed find by accident was the road from San Giustino (in the northern reaches of Umbria) up across the Valico di Bocca Trabaria (now we are in Marche) and down the other side into Borgo Pace. It is known by the locals but is usually more or less empty and offers a good surface and, if coming up the western side from San Giustino, a particularly enjoyable set of both tighter and more open sweeping curves (as per pic above). You could continue on past Borgo Pace to Urbania and then enjoy the road from there to Urbino which is not unpleasant at all. Urbino is worth a look too as a lessor known hill town lacking the hoards of tourists that Sienna or San Gimignano attract. If a bit of physical effort is on your schedule for the day you could do worse than the walking tracks from the pass or if in fact you are needing a re charge there is quite often a food van also at the pass. The Bocca Trabaria Pass is only one of the many little known roads in the Apennines that are probably better driver roads than many of the more well known switchback Alps passes. Check this video for proof! The sign below had less stickers on it in 2012 judging by the video.
Not far away is the Bocca is Passo dei Mandrioli, at the peak of the regional road SR71 (nothing to do with very fast American jets from 60s). This is another little known Italian back road that really delivers. The surface varies but is mostly excellent and is also mostly empty bar a few locals. It climbs up out of Bagno di Romagna (just inside Emilia-Romagna) and you pass through Badia Prataglia (in Tuscany) less than 20kms later. Google Maps suggests this will take you half an hour giving some indication of how tight it is in places. You could and should continue on to Pratovecchio (which my rudimentary Italian suggests translates to Old Lawn…) on more twisty road. Of course, you could then continue on to Florence. Urbino to Florence the back way would take all day but would be one hell of an enjoyable ride or drive.
Really the brilliant roads never end around this part of the Apennines, although in many cases the surface can be ordinary and the road a bit narrow in places. Try the ones I have suggested for a more Austrian/Swiss road quality. Feel free to comment and mention the ones you have tried and enjoyed.
My next road blog will touch on a few Dolomite roads that never fail to please.
