Ponte sospeso di San Marcello Piteglio, Pedestrian suspension bridge in San Marcello Piteglio, Italy
The Ponte sospeso di San Marcello Piteglio is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge made of steel in the Tuscan hills, spanning the Lima River. The construction sits about 40 meters (130 feet) above the riverbed and connects two banks through a narrow walkway secured by railings on both sides.
Count Vincenzo Douglas Scotti had the bridge built between 1920 and 1923 to give workers at his paper mill a direct route to their workplace. The construction replaced a long detour through the valleys and shortened the commute considerably.
Locals often call the structure the Tibetan bridge because of its resemblance to traditional suspension crossings in the Himalayas. Today, hikers and cyclists regularly cross the river on this route, which links two small settlements and passes through chestnut forests.
The bridge is freely accessible all year round and offers a direct connection between Mammiano Basso and Popiglio. Visitors should take extra care during wind or rain, as the structure sways slightly and the surface can become slippery.
Until 1990, the structure was considered the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world and appeared in the Guinness Book of Records. Today, cyclists use the crossing as part of mountain bike routes through the Tuscan Apennine mountains.
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