Driving in Italy 🇮🇹 | Santa Croce to Santa Maria – Scenic Alpine Road | January 2026

Route https://maps.app.goo.gl/GTTtrKsSKPWzC... 01:25 Borgonuovo 03:25 Prosto 04:33 Chiavenna 09:00 Prata Camportaccio 13:10 San Cassiano 17:15 Somaggia 21:20 Pozzo di Riva 22:05 Novate Mezzola 25:00 Campo Mezzola 26:25 Verceia | Lago di Mezzola 30:28 Nuova Olonio 32:18 Como 33:25 Ponte del Passo 34:25 Sorico 37:15 Gera Lario 38:24 Lago di Como 39:54 Vercana 40:45 Domaso 44:18 Gravedona 49:55 Dongo 56:00 San Siro 56:40 Santa Maria This scenic drive in northern Italy begins in Santa Croce, part of the municipality of Piuro, near the Swiss–Italian border. The area lies within the lower reaches of the Alps, where steep mountains gradually give way to wider valleys and lakeside landscapes. Leaving Santa Croce, the road follows the course of the Mera River, passing through small villages such as Borgonuovo and Prosto, which retain a quiet rural character. The route soon reaches Chiavenna, an important town in the province of Sondrio and a historic crossroads between Italy and Switzerland. Surrounded by mountains of the Lepontine Alps and the Rhaetian Alps, Chiavenna sits at the entrance to several alpine valleys and has long served as a key trading and transit point. From here, the drive continues south toward Prata Camportaccio, following a wider valley with open fields and gentle curves. Passing through San Cassiano, Somaggia, and Pozzo di Riva, the road remains calm and scenic, lined with traditional houses, vineyards, and mountain slopes. The journey then approaches Novate Mezzola, where the landscape opens dramatically at the northern edge of Lago di Mezzola. This lake marks a transition point between alpine valleys and the lake district of northern Italy. The drive continues through Campo Mezzola and Verceia, where the road runs alongside Lago di Mezzola, offering expansive views of the water framed by steep, forested mountains. Near Nuova Olonio, the route connects with the upper end of Lake Como (Lago di Como), one of Italy’s most famous lakes. Entering the town of Como, the scenery shifts to a more urban lakeside environment, with roads hugging the shoreline and mountains rising sharply from the water’s edge. The route passes Ponte del Passo, then continues north along the western shore of Lake Como through Sorico and Gera Lario, where the lake widens and the views become more open and panoramic. Following the shoreline, the drive passes through Vercana, Domaso, and Gravedona, each offering a mix of historic buildings, waterfront promenades, and hillside roads. This section of the drive provides continuous lake views, with the surrounding mountains creating a dramatic backdrop. The road continues through Dongo, a town known for its position along a narrow section of the lake and its steep surrounding terrain. The final stretch of the journey passes San Siro, where the road winds gently between the lake and the mountains, offering one last series of scenic views. The drive concludes in Santa Maria, a lakeside area known for its peaceful atmosphere and close connection to the natural beauty of Lake Como. This drive from Santa Croce to Santa Maria showcases the gradual transition from alpine valleys to one of Italy’s most iconic lake regions, combining mountain landscapes, historic towns, and long stretches of scenic lakeside road in a single journey. #Italy #DrivingItaly #ItalianRoadTrip #ScenicDrive #LakeComo #LagoDiComo #NorthernItaly #AlpineRoads #MountainRoads #LakesideDrive #Chiavenna #NovateMezzola #LagoDiMezzola #Domaso #Gravedona #Dongo #SanSiro #SantaMaria #RoadTripItaly #4KDrive #solo_traveler_7o