Would you ever dare set foot in something called a “coffin gondola”? What if the end result was a breathtaking view of the Italian Dolomite Mountains?
One TikToker, Karl Shakur, took the risk, riding in a single-person coffin gondola to get to the top of Sassolungo Mountain in Italy’s Dolomite region.
Making matters more terrifying, the gondolas don’t stop for you to board. No, no, you have to be quick on your feet and hold on as staff members push you into a moving one. Each gondola can only hold two people, and you have to stay standing the whole way — accessible, these gondolas are not.
Originally constructed in 1972, the cable cars, known as Telecabina Sassolungo, make an ascent of 1,600 feet over a horizontal distance of approximately one mile. They use a single cable propulsion system, which is why they don’t slow down as you’re boarding or disembarking. Staff are on hand to help visitors open and close the manual doors, as well as catch them if they fall while hopping off the gondola, which is traveling at a speed of 4.47 miles per hour.
Based on Shakur’s videos — as well as other videos online — the payoff seems more than worth it, however, as you’re rewarded with incredible views of the mountains and a traditional meal accompanied by Aperol spritzes, and maybe even an encounter with a friendly resident puppy. That said, those with a fear of heights or enclosed spaces should definitely stay away.
After all, as one commenter joked, “It’s convenient because if it falls and you die they just bury you in it.”
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