Strada degli Eroi is a military mule road built during WWI

# Strada degli Eroi: Italy's Epic Mountain Road

Want to experience one of Italy's most legendary drives? Head to the Pasubio massif in the Vicentine Alps, where the stunning Strada degli Eroi awaits. This 10.5km road winds through the dramatic landscape straddling Trentino-South Tirol and Veneto in the Eastern Alps, climbing 838 meters with an eye-watering average gradient of nearly 8% and peak sections hitting 12%.

Built in 1922 after World War I, this route honors 12 soldiers who earned gold medals for valor during the Great War—their names are etched into the rock face along the way. The road was initially just a mountain trail, but between 1937 and 1938, engineers transformed it into a proper route, complete with the impressive Galleria Generale Achille d'Havet tunnel. The ceremonial opening on June 26, 1938, marked a turning point for accessing the summit region.

Starting from a small parking area on Strada Statale 46, the road climbs relentlessly toward the Rifugio Generale Achille Papa hut, with kilometer markers every step of the way. Most of it remains unpaved (except for some asphalt hairpin turns), and prepare yourself for a shock: the temperature difference between the base and top is absolutely dramatic.

Fair warning: this road has a serious reputation. Closed to vehicles since the 1980s due to safety concerns, much of it has deteriorated significantly, with cracked surfaces and loose rocks making driving treacherous. Today, it's a favorite haunt for hikers and mountain bikers seeking adventure—but it demands respect and caution.