How many Pigtails are in Spain? Driving the 5 legendary "Nudos de Corbata"

# Spain's Hidden Road Spirals: Five Mind-Bending Engineering Marvels

Sure, millions of drivers zip through Spanish highways without a second thought, but few realize they're passing by some of the world's most jaw-dropping road engineering. We went digging through maps and found five absolutely wild spots where the road literally ties itself into a knot to conquer impossibly steep terrain.

Ever heard of a "pigtail"? It's basically a 360-degree spiral where the road loops over or under itself to gain elevation in the tightest space possible. While Switzerland and Japan get all the glory for these engineering marvels, Spain's quietly sitting on five incredible examples of high-altitude road wizardry.

The crown jewel? The **Nus de sa Corbata** on the legendary Sa Calobra Road in Mallorca. This show-stopping 270-degree curve was designed way back in 1932 by Antonio Parietti—and here's the crazy part: they built it without any tunnels. The road simply loops under itself to drop over a massive cliff in the Serra de Tramuntana. It's pure genius.

Then there's the **A-7000 Road** (formerly the N-321) in Málaga's mountains, where two pigtails sit practically next to each other. Classic early 20th-century problem-solving for navigating those brutal coastal ranges down south.

Heading toward the **NA-137** near the French border? Get ready for a perfect spiral as you climb toward the Col de la Pierre Saint-Martin. The drive through the Roncal Valley is incredibly technical and scenically stunning.

But the weirdest one? That honor goes to the **CV-223** in Castellón Province. Known locally as *Cuesta del Caracol* (Snail's Slope), this loop between Eslida and Ahín runs almost entirely through a tunnel—making it a hidden pigtail that most drivers never even realize they've navigated.

These engineering marvels aren't cheap or easy to build, which is why they only exist where traditional hairpins simply won't cut it. From historical designs to modern asphalt, these five locations prove that sometimes the impossible just needs the right dose of creativity and determination.