It is 450 meters long and, to traverse it in its entirety for a round trip, you walk for about a kilometer suspended 204 meters above the ground. Underfoot, only lush nature: the Valvarrone opens up here, with the torrent rushing fiercely between the Lecchese mountains.
We are faced with an impressive feat of engineering, inaugurated on October 24, 2026 and immediately recognized as Europe’s tallest pedestrian bridge: the Ponte dei Minatori, a suspension walkway that binds two sides of the valley, where nature, mining history and extraordinary panoramas meet. From here the gaze embraces the mountains surrounding Lago di Como, in a corner of Lombardy reachable in just under an hour from Lecco.
How the tallest pedestrian bridge in Europe was built
Walking along a suspended footbridge, with the torrent flowing more than 200 meters below and the surrounding mountains all around: this is the experience that awaits those who decide to cross the Ponte dei Minatori. The structure is located in Tremenico, in the Valvarrone municipality, and stretches for 450 meters above the gorge of the Varrone torrent, reaching a maximum height of 204 meters above the valley floor.
Constructed in steel, the walkway is 1.20 meters wide and allows you to traverse the valley on foot, without the need for harnesses and with total safety. All around, the landscape of the Lecchese mountains unfolds, with the scenery characteristic of this part of Lake Como. The overall journey, going and returning, measures about one kilometer and makes it possible to reach the opposite bank of the valley and then return to the starting point.
Behind the realization of the project lie more than 500 days of construction and the work of about one hundred professionals, between engineers, technicians and specialized operators. It was a genuine engineering challenge, made even more complex by the mountainous terrain and the difficulties of transporting materials and equipment to a location that is not easily reachable.
From mines to a new tourist attraction: the history
The bridge connects Tremenico to the ancient village of Lentrèe, a small settlement that preserves traces of a past tied to mining activity. And it is precisely from this history that the project takes shape.
The name of the walkway is not accidental: it is an homage to the generations of men who worked in the Valvarrone mines, extracting feldspar (a mineral used mainly in the ceramics and glass industries) from the mountains under difficult and often hazardous conditions. For much of the 20th century, this activity was a fundamental resource for local communities, but in 2005 the plants closed. Since then the territory has had to deal with the loss of one of its main economic activities and with a gradual depopulation.
The Ponte dei Minatori was born precisely with the aim of reversing this trend and offering new prospects to the valley. The project, devised by Cristian Adamoli, a geologist from Tremenico, together with his wife Claudia Anselmini, has the objective of valuing a historical and landscape heritage that risked remaining on the margins of the main tourist itineraries.
The bridge represents the first step of a broader project, which also looks at the restoration of the old village and the old mines, with the idea of creating new visiting routes and services dedicated to tourists.
Useful information: prices, hours and tickets
During the winter period, from October to February, the walkway is open every day from 9:30 to 17:00. The hours may change during the year depending on daylight hours and access may be suspended in case of adverse weather.
The full-price ticket costs 15 euros, while children up to 5 years enter free. There are also reduced rates for families: 35 euros for two adults and a child between 6 and 14, or 40 euros for two adults and two children of the same age range. The ticket is valid for the entire day and allows both the outward and return trips.
No reservation is required to experience the visit: tickets are purchased directly at the on-site box office. To cross the walkway, it is mandatory to wear closed-toe shoes with non-slip soles, while high heels, flip-flops and open-toed sandals are not allowed. Finally, crossing the suspended bridge is advised against those who suffer from vertigo, panic attacks, balance problems or heart conditions.
Where it is and how to reach it
The Miners’ Bridge is located in the locality of Tremenico, in the province of Lecco (Lombardy), immersed in the splendid mountainous landscape of Valvarrone. To reach it by car from Milan or Lecco one must take the SS36 of Lake Como and Spluga, exit at Dervio and proceed along the SP67, the provincial road that climbs the valley toward Tremenico, through a series of hairpin bends.
Once you arrive in the village, you can park in the available car parks near the bridge or use the one near the Church of Sant’Agata.
