Italy’s countryside is certainly postcard worthy, but even the prettiest of rolling hills won’t hit the spot for the adrenaline junkies among us. However, we’ve found something that might.
Swaying 175 metres above a ravine in Umbria, the gorgeously scenic region slap-bang in the middle of Italy, is Ponte Tibetano, Europe’s highest pedestrian bridge.
The footbridge, which connects Sellano (a mediaeval village) and Montesanto (a hamlet on the other side of the Vigi River), is just under half a mile long and takes between 30 and 45 minutes to cross.
It’s not for the faint-hearted – this bridge not only climbs an incline of 68 metres, but features a ‘discontinuous tread’, which means the connecting slats have gaps in between. Maybe don’t look down?
There are, of course, plenty of safety measures in place. Those crossing the bridge must wear a harness and suitable footwear – no Birkenstocks, please – and be at least 120 cm (four feet) tall.
Eastern Umbria was devastated by a series of earthquakes back in 2016, and Mayor of Sellano Attilio Gubbiotti told Corriere della Sera that ‘[the aim is to] revitalise the area and stave off depopulation.’ Here’s hoping the bridge encourages a few more visitors.
Intrigued? Petrified? Motivated by a great view and relieved at the news of a harness? Up to 90 people can cross per hour-long slot, and tickets are available to book on the bridge’s website.
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