
Rondenino Pass is pure adventure
Italy, europe
17.4 km
2,040 m
moderate
Year-round
# Passo di Rondenino: A High-Alpine Adventure
Ready for some serious mountain road thrills? Passo di Rondenino sits pretty at 2,040 meters (6,692 feet) in the Brescia province of Lombardy, northern Italy, and it's not for the faint of heart.
The SP345B—aka Strada Delle Tre Valli—is the road that'll get you there, and it's a beast. This 17.4 km (10.81 miles) stretch is almost entirely above 2,000 meters, so you're spending the whole time riding the spine of the mountains. The route kicks off from Passo del Maniva on the Anfo Ridge Road and wraps up at the SP 669 junction.
Here's the catch: while the start and finish are paved, the middle section transitions to gravel, and it's absolutely littered with rocks and crumbling surfaces—especially through the curves. You'll find stretches barely wide enough for one vehicle, so encounter management is crucial. The speed limit sits at a modest 20 km/h, and authorities take parking violations seriously (stick to designated areas only), plus no passing allowed.
Challenging? Absolutely. But totally doable if you respect the road and take your time. This is the kind of drive that makes for incredible stories.
Where is it?
Rondenino Pass is pure adventure is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 43.3229, 13.5320
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 17.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,040 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 43.3229, 13.5320
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