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Italy Southbound-to-Alps

I’m reading this as a south-to-north Italy road trip, with one honest caveat: Castello Utveggio is in Palermo, Sicily, so including it makes Day 1 a big southern launch before the mainland climb north.

10days
31stops
3083km
DAY01

Depart → Matera

978 km · 14h 8m driving · long drive · Overnight in Matera
  1. 07:30
    Depart· start
  2. 247 km · 3h 34m
  3. 08:00
    Castello Utveggio
  4. 374 km · 4h 5m
  5. 14:30
    Villa San Giovanni Ferry Terminal
  6. 357 km · 6h 29m
  7. 17:30
    Matera· overnight
Accommodation
Matera Sassi edge
DAY02

Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio → Positano

216 km · 4h 5m driving · long drive · Overnight in Positano
  1. 09:15
    Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio· start
  2. 4.9 km · 15m
  3. 14:30
    Amalfi
  4. 211 km · 3h 50m
  5. 17:00
    Positano· overnight
Accommodation
Amalfi or Minori
DAY03

Depart → Castel Sant'Angelo

333 km · 4h 13m driving · long drive · Overnight in Castel Sant'Angelo
  1. 09:00
    Depart· start
  3. 10:00
    Ravello
  4. 272 km · 3h 15m
  5. 15:00
    Colosseo
  6. 61 km · 58m
  7. 17:30
    Castel Sant'Angelo· overnight
Accommodation
Prati or Vatican-side Rome
DAY04

Spanish Steps → Venice

755 km · 10h 57m driving · long drive · Overnight in Venice
  1. 09:15
    Spanish Steps· start
  2. 378 km · 6h 52m
  3. 12:30
    Bologna
  4. 377 km · 4h 5m
  5. 17:30
    Venice· overnight
Accommodation
Venice Santa Croce or Cannaregio
DAY05

Depart → Sirmione

169 km · 3h 13m driving · Overnight in Sirmione
  1. 09:00
    Depart· start
  3. 09:15
    Piazza San Marco
  4. 0.6 km · 10m
  5. 11:30
    Rialto Bridge
  6. 168 km · 3h 3m
  7. 17:00
    Sirmione· overnight
Accommodation
Sirmione or Desenzano del Garda
DAY06

Depart → Varenna

12 km · 20m driving · Overnight in Varenna
  1. 09:00
    Depart· start
  3. 11:30
    Villa Balbiano
  4. 7.5 km · 10m
  5. 14:30
    Bellagio
  6. 5 km · 10m
  7. 17:00
    Varenna· overnight
Accommodation
Varenna lakefront or upper village
DAY07

Depart → Lago di Resia

171 km · 3h 7m driving · Overnight in Lago di Resia
  1. 09:00
    Depart· start
  3. 09:15
    Castello di Vezio
  4. 122 km · 2h 13m
  5. 14:30
    Bormio
  6. 49 km · 54m
  7. 17:30
    Lago di Resia· overnight
Accommodation
Curon Venosta or Resia
DAY08

Depart → Ortisei

200 km · 3h 18m driving · Overnight in Ortisei
  1. 09:00
    Depart· start
  3. 10:30
    Merano
  4. 61 km · 1h 7m
  5. 13:30
    Bolzano
  6. 138 km · 2h 11m
  7. 17:00
    Ortisei· overnight
Accommodation
Ortisei / Val Gardena
DAY09

Depart → Lago di Carezza

74 km · 1h 52m driving · Overnight in Lago di Carezza
  1. 09:00
    Depart· start
  2. 18 km · 28m
  3. 09:45
    Passo Sella
  4. 9.4 km · 15m
  5. 12:30
    Canazei
  6. 46 km · 1h 9m
  7. 16:30
    Lago di Carezza· overnight
Accommodation
Bolzano or Nova Levante
DAY10

Depart → Cortina d'Ampezzo

175 km · 3h 9m driving
  1. 09:00
    Depart· start
  2. 62 km · 1h 5m
  3. 09:45
    Santa Maddalena
  4. 54 km · 59m
  5. 13:00
    Brunico
  6. 58 km · 1h 5m
  7. 17:00
    Cortina d'Ampezzo
Accommodation
Cortina d'Ampezzo center
Heads Up
  • Day 1: 7h 39m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 2: 5h 43m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 3: 6h 37m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 4: 6h 36m driving — plan rest stops
  • book Rome timed entries ahead
  • confirm Castello Utveggio and Villa Balbiano access before travel
  • avoid driving inside Rome/Venice cores
  • check alpine pass conditions before the Resia–Dolomites section