Nivolet Pass is The Italian Job road
Italy, europe
40.5 km
2.532 m
hard
Year-round
# Colle del Nivolet: Italy's Ultimate Alpine Adventure
Perched at a jaw-dropping 2,621 meters (8,599 feet) in the heart of the Eastern Graian Alps, Colle del Nivolet is seriously one of those bucket-list drives you absolutely need to experience. Straddling the border between Aosta Valley and Piemonte in northern Italy, this mountain pass cuts right through the stunning Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso—Italy's oldest national park. Three gorgeous alpine lakes (Lago Serrú, Lago Agnel, and Lago di Ceresole) sit just below the summit, adding to the incredible scenery.
The fully paved Strada Provinciale 50 took ten years to complete (1953-1963) just to service the hydroelectric dams up here, and honestly? It was worth every bit of effort. You're looking at 33 hairpin turns that'll test your driving skills and your nerve. Starting from Locana, the 40.5km ascent climbs nearly 1,900 meters with gradients hitting a wild 12.9% in places. The real thrill comes near the two dams with some seriously tight hairpins, plus a 3.5km tunnel (Tunnel Ceresole) that's one of the steepest in the Alps at 12-14% gradient.
Fair warning: this road is narrow, barrier-free in stretches, and those blind corners mean you'll be crawling on busy days. The views get progressively more breathtaking—and vertiginous—as you climb. If heights make you nervous, this might push your comfort zone!
The road's so iconic it featured in *The Italian Job*, complete with that legendary final bus crash scene. It's also a legendary Giro d'Italia climb.
Just note: the pass closes October 15 to May 15, and private vehicles are banned on the final 6km every Sunday and holiday from mid-July to late August.
Where is it?
Nivolet Pass is The Italian Job road is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 43.1782, 13.1137
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 40.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 2.532 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 43.1782, 13.1137
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