The Strada della Forra is the sort of road that makes people look at a map twice. It leaves the lake shore near Limone and climbs through the gorge of the Brasa stream to the Tremosine plateau, cut into the vertical rock, with the cliff wall on one side and a very long drop on the other. It was built in the early twentieth century to link the isolated villages of Tremosine, which until then were almost cut off from the rest of the world, and it is remarkable that anyone thought to build it at all. Narrow tunnels, overhanging rock and tight bends make it one of the most dramatic roads in Italy.
For a rider, it is thrilling but demands attention. The road is narrow, in places barely wide enough for two cars to pass, with several short tunnels that are almost one lane. Blind corners and oncoming traffic, including buses, are normal. The surface is generally fair but there can be loose stone and damp patches, and the gorge is shaded and cool even in summer. Speeds should be low, partly because the road demands it, and partly because there is simply too much to look at. Sometimes the road is closed after rockfall or storms, so check before you commit.
At the top, the plateau of Tremosine opens out into a quieter country of villages, meadows and sweeping views over the lake. The village of Pieve is the main centre, and at its edge is a terrace built out over the cliff, a glass platform nicknamed the Terrace of Thrills, which hangs more than three hundred metres above the water. It is not for those afraid of heights, but the view down the lake to the south is one of the finest anywhere.
There is little in the way of services on the road itself. Pieve has cafes, a few restaurants and basic shops, and the lake terrace has a bar that serves coffee and light meals. Fuel is the main issue. There is none in the gorge, and the nearest large town in the data is Riva del Garda, about fourteen kilometres away, so fill there or in one of the shore villages before you climb.
If the road is busy, take your time and enjoy it. It is best ridden early, on a weekday in spring or autumn, when the light is soft and the tourists are few. The ride down again is a different experience, with the lake spread out below like a blue floor.