The pass is located in the Ortler Alps in Italy between Stilfs (Italian: Stelvio) in South Tyrol to the north-east and Bormio to the south-west in the province of Sondrio.

The "Three Languages Peak" (Dreisprachenspitze) above the pass is so named because this is where the Italian, German, and Romansh language-speaking areas meet.

[citation needed] The original road was built in 1820–25 by the Austrian Empire to connect the former Habsburg possession of Lombardy with Austria, covering a climb of 1,871 m (6,138 ft).

Stirling Moss went off the road here during a vintage car event in the 1990s, with an onboard video of his incident being shown on satellite TV.

The three nations made an agreement not to fire over Swiss territory, which jutted out in between Austria (to the north) and Italy (to the south).

Every year, the pass is closed to motor vehicles on one day in late August when about 8,000 cyclists ride and around 25 runners run to the top of the Stelvio.

Bormio regularly hosts World Cup ski racing, usually in late December for a men's downhill event; its Pista Stelvio is among the most challenging courses on the circuit.

The Stelvio Pass was also picked by the British car show Top Gear as its choice for the "greatest driving road in the world".

[6] This conclusion was reached in the first episode of the show's 10th series after the team went in search of a road that would satisfy every "petrolhead's" driving fantasies.