Rising directly from the coastal town of Castellammare di Stabia into the Monti Lattari above the Sorrento peninsula, Monte Faito is one of southern Italy’s toughest and most scenic climbs.
A steep climb with a dramatic finish
From Castellammare di Stabia, it’s 19.1 km for 1,244 m of elevation gain, averaging 6.5%, though the first three kilometres are a mild 5-6% before the road snakes up steep rock walls through hairpin after hairpin, with sustained sections between 10% and 15%. The summit sits at 1,269 m.
A forgotten Giro d’Italia test piece
Monte Faito last appeared in the Giro d’Italia during stage 3 of the 1974 edition, and hasn’t returned to the race since. It remains popular with local and visiting cyclists as one of the region’s hardest tests, its steep upper slopes overlooking the Bay of Naples.
Getting the ride right
Hold something back through the deceptively easy opening kilometres — the real climb starts once the road leaves the coast and the hairpins begin in earnest.
When to go
April to October — outside these months the coastal heat or occasional winter closures can make the climb less pleasant.
Good to know
From the upper hairpins, the road opens onto sweeping views of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius, while Castellammare di Stabia itself sits on the edge of the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento peninsula, both worth exploring beyond the ride.
