A 5-star road to Passo Campo Carlo Magno in the Italian Alps
Italy, europe
30.6 km
1,682 m
moderate
Year-round
# Passo Campo Carlo Magno: Where Legend Meets Alpine Roads
Perched at 1,682 meters (5,518 feet) in Italy's stunning Trentino-Alto Adige region, Passo Campo Carlo Magno is a mountain pass with serious historical swagger. According to legend, Charlemagne himself crossed here in 800 AD on his way to Rome for his coronation—though historians might roll their eyes at that claim. What we do know for sure is that the pass got its official name in 1909, inspired by a gorgeous fresco of Charlemagne hanging in the nearby church of Carisolo, painted by the famous Baschenis family from Bergamo.
This isn't just any mountain road. We're talking about the Adamello-Brenta region of the northern Italian Alps, where serious cyclists tackle the pass during the Giro d'Italia. The fully paved Strada Statale 239 (SS239) connects Val Rendena and Val di Sole with a respectable 30.6 km stretch.
Coming up from Pinzolo? You're looking at 15.3 km of climbing with 932 meters of elevation gain—that averages out to a manageable 6.1% gradient, though the steepest sections will push you to 11.4%. From the Dimaro side, it's nearly identical: 15.2 km with 917 meters gained and a 6% average grade. Either way, the road's in pretty solid condition, making this an epic alpine drive through some truly breathtaking scenery.
Where is it?
A 5-star road to Passo Campo Carlo Magno in the Italian Alps is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 42.2054, 12.5618
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 30.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,682 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 42.2054, 12.5618
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