Pietrapertosa, Italy

Volo dell'Angelo

The steel cable lets adventurers zoom between two mountain towns at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour.

Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano, two charming rural towns, crown opposite peaks in Italy’s Basilicata Mountains. Instead of walking or driving along the hairpin streets that wind between the settlements, locals and tourists alike have a zippier, more straightforward option for getting around.

A steel cable threads between the two towns, letting travelers zoom through the sky at speeds upwards of 75 miles per hour (120 kilometers per hour). Called the Volo dell’Angelo (Flight of the Angel), this zoomy attraction offers spectacular views of the Dolomiti Lucane and a thrilling adrenaline rush.

You can only ride the Volo dell’Angelo during in the summer, usually between June and September. It consists of two separate trips: Pietrapertosa to Castelmezzano, and vice-versa. The two trips are similar but not exactly equal. Both options have adventurers whizzing at least 1,300 feet (400 meters) above the ground.

The first line, also known as the San Martino line, covers 4,642 feet (1,415 meters). The journey starts in Pietrapertosa at an altitude of 3,346 feet (1,020 meters), and passengers reach speeds of up to 68 miles per hour (110 kilometers per hour) en route to Castelmezzano.

The Peschiera line covers 4,764 feet (1,452 meters) and starts at an altitude of 3,346 feet (1,019 meters) in Castelmezzano. On this trip, travelers’ speeds can clock in at up to 75 miles per hour (120 miles her hour).