It is a road pass on Territorial Route 20, between Corte and Ponte Leccia (Morosaglia).

The Col de San Quilico is a saddle between the mountains that separate Soveria in the north from Tralonca in the south.

A large part of the ridge line defines the border between the municipalities of Soveria and Tralonca.

The section of the mountain range holding the San Quilico pass divides the central depression or furrow of the island into two zones: The Col de San Quilico connects the Golo valley, Bastia and the Balagne region to the north, with the Centre Corse (Centru di Corsica) to the south, the Tavignano valley and the east coast of the island, and (beyond the Col de Vizzavona) to Ajaccio and the west coast.

In the 1880s, a railway tunnel 500 meters long was bored at an average altitude of 495 metres (1,624 ft) under the pass as part of the new Ajaccio – Bastia line, removing the obstacle of San Quilico.