Estrada de Sao Bento: 12% Gradients and Endless Curves — Check Your Brakes!
Portugal, europe
9.1 km
1,653 m
moderate
Year-round
Estrada de São Bento, aka the Loriga Pass, is seriously like Portugal's answer to the Stelvio Pass! You'll find this gem nestled west of Alto de Torre–Serra da Estrela, in the heart of the country.
Named after the nearby peak of São Bento, this winding beauty (part of the N338) opened back in '06 and serves up panoramic views of the Serra da Estrela that will blow your mind. Picture this: smooth pavement, practically no traffic, killer views, and seriously steep climbs. Most people take the Seia–Covilhã road, so you'll practically have this stunner all to yourself.
This road is all about pure driving joy — think smooth curves and fresh mountain air. It's one of the least-traveled routes up the mountains, which makes it even more awesome. Even surrounded by other great roads, the Loriga Pass is where the curves get tight and you just want to drive it over and over again!
Fair warning: this drive is intense. Countless turns and some ramps hit a 12% gradient! You'll see signs reminding you to keep it in low gear and check your brakes. Slow and steady wins the race here, and watch out for those high winds!
This road is only 9.1 km (5.65 miles) from the N231 to the ER399, but in that short distance, you climb 682 meters and end up at a whopping 1,653 m (5,423 ft) above sea level! The average gradient is 7.49%, so get ready for some serious uphill action.
Where is it?
Estrada de Sao Bento: 12% Gradients and Endless Curves — Check Your Brakes! is located in Portugal (europe). Coordinates: 40.4616, -8.2229
Road Details
- Country
- Portugal
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 9.1 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,653 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 40.4616, -8.2229
Related Roads in europe
hardAn iconic paved road to Furkajoch in the Austrian Alps
🇦🇹 Austria
# Furkajoch: A Scenic Alpine Adventure Want to experience some serious Alpine drama? The Furkajoch is calling your name. Perched at 1,761 meters (5,778 ft), this mountain pass cuts right through Vorarlberg, Austria's westernmost state, connecting the Bregenzer Ach valley with the Frutz River valley. The 29-kilometer (18-mile) journey runs west to east, starting in Rankweil (the second-largest town in the Feldkirch district) and winding up in Damüls—a snow-lover's paradise and official "snowiest village in the world" since 2006. Trust us, this place gets *buried* in winter. The L51 is fully paved, which is great, but don't let that fool you. This road gets steep and narrow in places, keeping you on your toes around every hairpin turn. Plus, you'll want to keep an eye out for rockslides along the way. Winter driving? Forget about it—the pass closes seasonally because Mother Nature doesn't mess around up here. If you're chasing stunning Alpine scenery and don't mind a bit of white-knuckle driving, the Furkajoch delivers both in spades. Just hit it during the warmer months when the pass is actually open, and you're in for an unforgettable ride.
hardA gravel road to the virgin Verodal beach in Canary Islands
🇪🇸 Spain
Alright, adventurers, listen up! Ever dreamt of escaping to the edge of the world? Then picture this: El Hierro, the tiniest, most remote Canary Island, chilling in the Atlantic off the African coast. Here, you'll find Playa del Verodal, a beach with sand the color of fire. Getting there is half the fun! The road to this almost-untouched paradise is a 1.2 km (0.74 mile) unpaved beauty that begins after the popular road to Pico Faeda. Be warned, though – it's a bit of a squeeze, especially during peak season when everyone's chasing that volcanic sunset. But trust me, the drive is SO worth it. Imagine winding through a landscape sculpted by volcanoes, with views that'll blow your mind. Just keep an eye out for potential closures due to volcanic activity. And while you're there, admire the powerful sea from afar – swimming isn't really recommended due to the wild waves and strong currents.
extremeWhat are the 10 most haunted roads of Spain?
🇪🇸 Spain
# Spain's Most Mysterious Roads: Where Legend Meets the Pavement Spain's road network has a reputation for something you won't find in any official guide—stretches of highway that drivers swear they'll avoid after dark. These aren't just dangerous roads; they're the stuff of genuine folklore, where travelers report spine-tingling encounters that have inspired local legends for generations. Ghost stories on remote roads are nothing new. Every continent has them, and they all follow a similar pattern: they happen at night, they happen in isolated places, and they tap into something primal about driving alone through darkness. Spain has plenty of these "cursed" stretches, and some have genuinely eerie histories to back them up. **Cuesta de las Doblas** holds a grim distinction. This 2.3-kilometer section of the old N-431 highway (between kilometers 568-570) has been plagued by tragedy since 1937. Over a hundred deaths have occurred here, thanks largely to a poorly designed curve that's claimed countless lives. Naturally, the legends followed. Dozens of drivers report seeing a girl in a red jacket hitchhiking frantically just before the bend—a classic phantom of a tragic location. The twisted roads through **Las Hurdes** in Extremadura are another hotbed of paranormal claims. Beyond the typical ghostly women in old-fashioned clothes, locals speak of wailing phantom babies, cemetery spirits, and red-eyed creatures chasing vehicles through the desolate landscape. The isolation here definitely helps the creepy atmosphere. The **N-340 at Sant Carles de la Rápita** (Tarragona) near the Los Alfaques campsite is haunted by a real tragedy. On July 11, 1978, a propylene tanker exploded here, killing 243 people in a horrific fireball. Since then, countless drivers have reported seeing expressionless figures—men, women, children—standing motionless on the roadside, staring blankly as traffic passes. Are they ghosts or just the power of suggestion in a place marked by unimaginable suffering? **AS-17 in Valparaíso** (Extremadura) doesn't get as much attention, but it generates plenty of reports. Drivers describe a dark-haired woman with a vacant stare who suddenly appears from behind roadside signs, looking disoriented. This area has been considered cursed since the 11th century, but the modern legend dates to the 1950s when it became associated with a First Communion girl who vanished there, supposedly thrown from a horse-drawn carriage by a pack of wolves. Today, motorists claim to see her ghost in her white dress, rosary in hand. Near **kilometer 174 of the A-5**, the tale grows even older. The story goes back centuries to when a girl died mysteriously during her First Communion journey—wolves spooked the carriage, the horse bolted, and she disappeared. When similar tragedies struck in the 1950s at the same location, Valparaíso officially earned its reputation as cursed ground. One unnamed stretch has earned the grim nickname **"the death stretch"**—just 2 kilometers long with a particularly deadly kilometer 32 marked by crosses and flowers. Despite good visibility and solid asphalt, accidents cluster inexplicably here. Some blame monotony; others point to the ghost of a 17-year-old girl hit and killed here decades ago, her body supposedly dumped in a nearby lagoon. Red stains on the pavement persist, unexplained by any weathering or cleaning. The **Engaña tunnel entrance** in Cantabria carries dark history. Built by political prisoners during Franco's regime, hundreds died constructing this rail link. The tunnel was abandoned incomplete, but the legends never were. Drivers regularly report apparitions and mysterious sounds emanating from the entrance. For 19 years, a stretch connecting **Arahal, Utrera, Montellano, and the Morón air base** has generated bizarre reports: children in school uniforms crossing hand-in-hand before vanishing, a glowing woman's face in the roadway, humanoid figures, and UFOs. The nearby presence of Spain's largest and most secretive air force base certainly fuels the mystery. **N-240 in Aragon's Jacetania region** has its own phantom: a pilgrim eternally wandering the Camino de Santiago, complete with staff and water gourd, who allegedly throws himself at passing cars. This area has been steeped in legend for centuries—Holy Grail sightings, divine apparitions, the whole mystical package. Finally, the **ruins of La Mussara** in Catalonia held the title of most haunted Catalan road until Los Alfaques claimed it. The setting's almost deliberately creepy: permanent fog, relentless wind, complete isolation. It's hosted satanic ritual stories, disappearances, time anomalies, and strange creature encounters for centuries. Intriguingly, actual electromagnetic interference has been scientifically measured here. Whether these phenomena are ghosts, legends, or psychological effects of desolate roads at night remains deliciously uncertain. One thing's sure: Spain's supernatural roads continue to inspire wonder—and plenty of nervous drivers.
hardWinston Churchill Avenue cuts directly across the runway of the Gibraltar airport
🇬🇧 England
Picture this: you're cruising into Gibraltar, a tiny British territory clinging to the southern edge of Spain. The sun's shining, the Mediterranean's sparkling... and then you hit Winston Churchill Avenue. Sounds normal, right? Wrong! This isn't your average road. It’s the *only* road connecting Gibraltar to Spain. Think of it as Gibraltar's main street, bustling with cars, buses, the whole shebang. Oh, and did I mention it *literally* crosses the runway of Gibraltar International Airport? Yep, you read that right. You're driving along, maybe humming to the radio, and suddenly railroad-style crossing gates come down. Why? Because a Boeing 747 is about to land! It's a total trip. This quirky setup dates back to World War II, and it's a reminder that Gibraltar is a place where the unexpected is normal. Watching planes take off and land while you're stuck in traffic is definitely a unique travel experience. So, buckle up, keep your eyes peeled for jumbo jets, and get ready for a wild ride on Winston Churchill Avenue! It's a journey you won't soon forget.