
A Delightful Yet Challenging Road to Passo Furcia in the Alps
Italy, europe
17.9 km
1,789 m
hard
Year-round
# Passo Furcia
Nestled in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano in northern Italy, Passo Furcia sits at a breezy 1,789m (5,869 ft) above sea level. You might also hear locals call it Furkelpass or Ju de Furćia—welcome to South Tyrol, where everything has multiple names!
The summit itself is pretty sweet, with a bar and restaurant waiting to refuel you after the climb, plus a spacious parking lot where you can take in the views. And here's the kicker: Passo Furcia is your gateway to tackling the stunning Kronplatz-Plan de Corones climb.
The 17.9 km (11.12 mile) stretch of fully paved road runs from Marebbe to Mitterolang, and it's called Via Furcia (or Furkelstraße if you prefer the German version). But don't let that smooth asphalt fool you—this isn't a leisurely Sunday drive. Snaking through the Pusteria Valley, the road demands your full attention with its galleries, countless hairpin turns, and sections that'll test your nerve. There's even a vehicle length restriction of 12m, and you'll encounter gradients hitting 18% at their steepest. Fair warning: the road is narrow in places, so take it slow and keep your eyes peeled.
The good news? This route's earned some serious street cred—the Giro d'Italia has featured it, and it typically stays open through winter, so you can experience its alpine magic year-round.
Where is it?
A Delightful Yet Challenging Road to Passo Furcia in the Alps is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 41.7005, 13.2508
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 17.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,789 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 41.7005, 13.2508
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