Driving the Wild Unpaved Road to Colombardo Pass in Piedmont

Passo del Colombardo is a high mountain pass sitting at 1,898m (6,227ft) above sea level in the Metropolitan City of Turin, Italy. Nestled in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, this Alpine gem is home to a charming little church at the summit called Santuario della Madonna degli Angeli.

The pass gets its name—Col de Colombardo in French—from a distinctive wind that sweeps in from Lombardy. Once you reach the top, you'll find several minor unpaved roads branching off to some seriously scenic spots like Alpe della Portia, Alpeggio Tomba di Matolda, Truc Muandette, and Alpe del Rat.

Here's the real deal: the road up is mostly unpaved, recently renovated, but don't let that fool you. It's narrow, steep as they come, with some sections hitting gradients of 18.5%—no joke. Winter? Forget about it. The road closes when the snow rolls in.

If you're starting from Forno, the village to the north, you're looking at a 9.6 km (5.96 mile) push to the summit. Over that distance, you'll gain a solid 1,024m of elevation, averaging a 10.66% gradient. It's a challenging climb that rewards you with stunning Alpine scenery and that beautiful sanctuary waiting at the top. Definitely one for the bucket list if you're into mountain driving.