An Iconic Paved Road to the Historic Campo Imperatore

# Campo Imperatore: Italy's Dramatic Mountain Plateau

Perched at a stunning 2,167 meters (7,109 feet) in the Abruzzo region of central Italy, Campo Imperatore is this incredible high-altitude plateau nestled within the Gran Sasso mountain park. It's the kind of place that feels like you're literally driving above the clouds.

Getting up here is an adventure in itself. The Strada Regionale 17bis/C climbs 9.8 kilometers (6 miles) from the main road, gaining 492 meters in elevation with an average grade of 5.0% and some sections pushing up to 8.2%. The road is fully paved, though you'll encounter plenty of switchbacks and narrow stretches that keep you honest behind the wheel. Fair warning: this route is only open from June through October, so plan accordingly.

Once you reach the summit, you'll find a surprising collection of structures connected by an underground tunnel system—pretty handy when the mountain decides to throw its notorious wind and cold your way. There's a functioning observatory, a hotel, a hostel, a cable car station, and even a small alpine church. The Albergo Campo Imperatore itself has serious historical weight, as it's where Benito Mussolini was held prisoner in 1943 before his dramatic Nazi-orchestrated escape.

Pack layers, because even summer visits mean bracing wind and chilly temps at this elevation. And here's a fun Hollywood tidbit: filmmakers absolutely love this place. More than twenty movies have been shot here, from *The American* to *Ladyhawke* and *Krull*—the dramatic landscape is basically made for the big screen.