I’ve been away for a few days, absent from blogging, but I’m not too late for Frizztext’s A to Z Challenge, and this week it’s S. From my travels, S could be for Salzburg, Sankt Veit an der Glan, Stubaital, San Gimignano, Siena, Spello, Spoleto, Sibiu, Sighisoara, Sucevita, Ste Menehould, St Emilion, St Cirq Lapopie and many others.
I have decided to go for the most impressive Stelvio Pass (Stilfserjoch Straße) which is located in Northern Italy and is the second highest built paved Alpine pass. Built between 1820 and 1825, it is an amazing feat of civil engineering.
Some years ago, Top Gear (British TV programme) rated it the best driving road…it is quite something, I agree. I have twice driven it, but notice that it has now been resurfaced. The first time was a great drive in bright sunshine on a rather rough road, driving up the Northern side with it’s 48 hairpin bends. Quite a challenge for our classic sportscar. The second time it was very misty when we did the route in reverse (in the same car). When we arrived at the top of the pass, we were greeted by this sight:
Stormclouds over the Stelvio
Take a look at more ‘S’ here.
WordsVisual 
Cracking shot Sue – I have ambitions to drive and ride that road 😈
I thoroughly recommend this long and winding road….
I love winding roads! Lovely one at the top of Franschhoek Valley in SA called the Cats Road and another one is the Stalheimskleiva hairpin road which is one of the steepest roads in Northern Europe, built during 1842-1846. The road has 13 hairpin bends, with Stalheim Hotel located at the top overlooking the road and the Naeroy Valley. Not so many bends as yours but much steeper. Sadly I only walked up them!
Great photo Sue! Must have been magic in a classic sports car – open top?
Thanks Jude! Just rescued you from my Spam…no idea why your post ended up there.:(. My little car is open top, sadly don’t use it so much now as I tend to drive an automatic due to my health. But I’ve had some great adventures!
Groan! Hope we are not going to have another ‘SPAMGATE’. Thanks for rescuing me – hopefully I won’t go there again!
I hope you don’t
What a beauty! 🙂
It was quite a sight!
Oh man… that adds a whole new dimension to “taking the scenic route”!
Bang to rights! 🙂
Breathtaking! Have you ever seen “Trollstigen” in Norway? 🙂
I have never been to Norway…another country on my list to see! What is Trollstigen?
Trollstigen is a road through west Norwegian nature at its most powerful, with a dizzying view of sheer mountainsides, waterfalls, deep fjords and fertile valleys. Since tourism was in its infancy, tourists from all over the world have visited Geiranger and Trollstigen.
Sounds spectacular!
“S” is for SUE: listen to my guitar, playing SWEET SUE:
😀 😀
such a beautiful shot Susan! Wonderful place!
Thanks Mary! It is indeed a great sight…
JUST WOW! I would love to ride a bike on this road. Gorgeous shot Sue!
Thank you! It was quite a sight coming out of the mist to be greeted by such a scene…
I really liked it Sue!
Good!!
Wow.. what a beautiful scenery !!!
Beautiful shot…
Many thanks! 🙂