In 1180, the town in the center of the Alps derived this name from its position by a bridge over the River Inn ("Inn" = name of the river flowing by, "bruck" = old German word for bridge). Remnants show that Romans had been here about 15 BC. At this time, Innsbruck was one of the major transport centers from Germany in the north to Italy in the south. In medieval Tyrol, its capital Innsbruck, played an important role in Europe’s history. The "Golden Roof" and the houses of the very attractive historic center are witnesses of this era. Over the last several decades, Innsbruck gained fame by hosting the Winter Olympic Games in 1964 and 1976.

Planned in 1818, this pass road was built within 5 years (1820-1825) by about 2,000 workers. Because of the horse-drawn vehicles of the time, the gradient was limited to a maximum of 11%. At an altitude of 2,758 m (9,048 ft), Passo dello Stelvio is the highest pass in Italy and the second-highest paved pass of the Alps. With its 48 tight switchbacks on the northern side, it is a tourist attraction famous all over Europe and a first-class attraction for European riders. You will love it, too!

The name Dolomites is derived from the name of the French geologist, Déodat de Dolomieu. He discovered that the limestone in this area is different in its chemical composition compared to that of the northern limestone area. Special sedimentary rocks form incredibly rough and beautiful formations like Marmolada, Sella, and the Tre Cime de Lavaredo. They are the most photographed mountains of the Dolomites. Historically, it is an interesting place. Belonging to the Austrian Monarchy during World War I, the frontline led right through the mountains. Fighting from 1916 to 1919, the soldiers had to stay in the mountains through summer as well as winter. A really tough life! Austria was one of the losers of the war. At the peace treaty of St. Germain in 1919, they agreed to hand Southern Tyrol over to Italy. That leads us to the explanation of the bilingual road signs and village names. You can very easily pick out the former border between Italy and Austria by looking at your map or by reading the signs. Don't be confused if you see village signs in three languages. The third one is Ladinish, spoken by a few people in a small area. Be prepared for an unbelievable ride in an incredible area!

Gavia Pass, 2,618 m (8,589 ft) high and 43 km (27 mi) long, is located in Italy's Lombardy region and divides the province of Sondrio in the north from the province of Brescia in the south. The road over the pass connects Bormio in the northwest with Ponte di Legno in the south and is a single lane for most of its southern section. Gavia Pass is often part of the route of the Giro d´Italia road bicycle race and is sometimes designated the Cima Coppi, the highest point of the race. Same as Stelvio, this pass is a first-class attraction for European riders!

The 2.047 m (6716 ft) Passo Manghen is on the bucket list of every motorcyclist in the Alps. It is the only crossing for cars between Molina (North) and Castelnuovo (South). The distance between the two Valleys is about 40 km. The inclination is up to 16 %! The northern ramp has 13, the southern one 10, partly narrow switchbacks. Trucks and busses are not allowed on this pass.