The Stelvio Pass road in Italy is traversed by which state road?

The Stelvio Pass road in Italy is traversed by Strada Statale 38, commonly abbreviated SS 38.

The road, formally called Strada statale 38 dello Stelvio, links Italy’s Valtellina with South Tyrol by crossing the Stelvio Pass. It continues through Val Venosta and onward toward Bolzano. Although portions are now managed by local authorities, the route retains the SS 38 designation in common usage and official road numbering.

The pass road was built in the early nineteenth century under the Austrian Empire to connect Lombardy with Tyrol without crossing Venetian or Swiss territory. Engineer Carlo Donegani designed its demanding mountain alignment. The Valtellina side is famous for 34 numbered hairpin bends, while the South Tyrol side contains another 48 turns.

At roughly 2,757 metres above sea level, Stelvio is one of Europe’s highest paved mountain passes. The SS 38 should not be confused with SS 12, which is a separate Italian state road. Snow and avalanche conditions can close the pass seasonally, so the spectacular route is not reliably open year-round.