Trentino-Alto Adige · Italy
Passo della Mendola (Mendel Pass)
SS42Caldaro to Fondo
Historic 17-hairpin wine-road climb from Caldaro up to the Mendel ridge.
Built in the 1880s, the SS42 climbs from Caldaro on the South Tyrol wine road through 17 sharp bends to the 1363 m Passo della Mendola, then runs on toward Fondo in the Val di Non. It is a steady, panoramic ascent that was a fashionable belle-epoque health resort and remains popular with bikers and cyclists. Gradients are moderate and the bends well graded. Mind the heavy weekend two-wheeled traffic, the sheer drop-offs on the open hairpins, and occasional ice on the shaded upper bends in the cold months.
Where it runs13.4 mi · point to point
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Character
Corners
busiest around mile 6Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%664.1 – 1,384.6 mFrom the road
Points of interest2 stops
- Passo della Mendola – MendelpassViewpoint6.6 mi in
- Orologio ad acquaLandmark13 mi in
Hazards
- Heavy motorcycle traffic
- Exposed drop-offs
- Shaded ice in cold months
Sources
“The hairpins are wide, and there are a number of wide sweepers to enjoy.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
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