
Where is Strada Provinziale 345B?
Italy, europe
20 km
1.9 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising along Strada Provinciale 345B, or as the locals call it, Delle Tre Valli, nestled high in the Italian Alps. This isn't your average Sunday drive, though! We're talking about a 17.2km stretch of road in the province of Brescia, almost entirely perched above 1,900 meters.
You'll find this gem in Lombardy, the northern part of Italy. The road is mostly paved but with a few gravel sections, so pretty much any car can handle it. Just take it slow, because the speed limit is a chill 20 km/h. Trust me, you'll want to, because the road is narrow and has plenty of rocks and rough patches, especially on those curves! Overtaking isn't allowed, and you'll want to stick to parking areas if you stop.
Give yourself about 45-60 minutes to soak it all in, driving from Passo di Croce Domini. Keep an eye out for Passo di Vaia/Alpe di Vaia and Valico Poffa di Rondenino. This road is an adventure – leading to Colle Basset, or a ride to Rifugio Cornisello in the Alps that is certainly not for the faint of heart!
Just a heads up: because of the high altitude, this road is usually snowed in during the winter. Opening and closing dates depend on the weather each year, so check ahead!
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 20 km
- Max Elevation
- 1.9 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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