SS300 · Italy

Passo di Gavia

A high pass in the Italian Alps between Ponte di Legno and Santa Caterina, near Bormio, reaching 2,621 m.

StartFinishHairpin

32.0 kmLength

334Pace-note calls

29Hairpins

81Tight corners (1–2)

↑1,420 ↓930Climb and drop, m

≈2,630 mHighest point

Counts are from Turini’s pace-note engine on this route. Heights come from terrain data and can differ from signposted figures by a few tens of metres.

Where is the Passo di Gavia?

The Passo di Gavia is in Italy, on the SS300. Also known as Gavia Pass or Passo Gavia. The route on this page: Ponte di Legno to Santa Caterina Valfurva, over the 2,621 m pass, 32.0 km.

Why the Passo di Gavia is famous

It is a regular climb in the Giro d’Italia and sometimes the race’s highest point. The 1988 stage over the Gavia was raced in a snowstorm and is still one of the Giro’s best-remembered days.

Passo di Gavia hairpins

Over 32.0 km Turini calls 29 hairpins, 2 square corners and 290 corners graded 1 to 6, plus 1 crest. That is 334 calls in all, one every 96 metres on average. Grade 1 is the tightest, 6 is nearly straight (how to read pace notes).

HP29

113

268

353

465

553

638

Passo di Gavia elevation profile

From 1,249 m at the start to 1,762 m at the finish, with a highest point of about 2,630 m. Red marks are the hairpins.

2,700 m1,200 m

0 km16 km32.0 km

Passo di Gavia pace notes, first few km

The first 25 calls, exactly as Turini reads them, with the distance from the start.

15 mSquare left

45 mRight 3 long

195 mHairpin left

335 mHairpin right in dip

420 mLeft 3 long over crest

520 mTunnel

560 mSquare right

575 mTarmac

735 mLeft 6

875 mLeft 6

990 mLeft 6

1.08 kmRight 4

1.12 kmLeft 3

1.27 kmLeft 2 tightens

1.34 kmRight 3

1.46 kmBridge

1.48 kmRight 4

1.55 kmLeft 4

1.70 kmRight 5

1.94 kmRight 5

2.07 kmRight 5

2.23 kmRight 4

2.27 kmBridge

2.29 kmLeft 2

2.37 kmRight 5

That takes you to 2.37 km. 309 more calls follow over the remaining 29.6 km.

Before you drive the Passo di Gavia

Closed in winter. It usually opens in early summer and can close at short notice for snow.

The south side from Ponte di Legno is narrow, in places barely wide enough for two cars, with steep drops. Expect to stop or reverse for oncoming traffic.

How to drive the Passo di Gavia with Turini

Set the route before you leave and Turini saves its notes on the phone, so it works with the screen off and no signal. On the road it reads each call about 4.5 seconds before the corner, timed to your speed, and you never touch the phone. It also works through Android Auto. If pace notes are new to you, start in Simple mode (Easy, Medium, Hard) and switch to the 1–6 scale once it feels natural.

Always drive within the law, the conditions and what you can see. Turini tells you what the map says; the road is what counts.

More roads like the Passo di Gavia

Stelvio PassItaly15.7 km · 165 calls · 47 hairpins

Timmelsjoch High Alpine RoadAustria / Italy40.7 km · 351 calls · 27 hairpins

Passo SellaItaly22.4 km · 227 calls · 32 hairpins

Best driving roads in the Alps · Best driving roads in Europe · Best driving roads in Italy · All famous roads · How to read pace notes

Sources: Wikipedia: Gavia Pass, Wikipedia (it): Passo di Gavia.

Set Turini up for you

Turini is in early access on Android. Five quick questions and you’ll know which mode to start with.

Find your setup →