Supercool cycle path floats above Lake Garda in Italy

Can a trip around northern Italy’s wonderful Lake Garda get any more spectacular?

Yup, just hang a floating cycle path from the craggy cliffs, allowing riders to coast above its crystal-clear Alpine waters.

What could soon be Europe’s, if not the world’s, most beautiful bike path is being constructed 60 meters (197 feet) above the lake to complete a spellbinding 140-kilometer circular route.

The first sections of the €102 million ($124 million) project are expected to open in the summer of 2018, with the full circuit of the lake completed in 2021.

It’s likely to be a tremendous draw for cyclists who already travel to the region to enjoy riding in the foothills of the Dolomites and take part in events such as the classic Transalp mountain bike race.

Known as “Garda By Bike,” the 2.6-meter-wide path will circle the whole lake connecting three intersecting regions – Lombardy, Veneto and Trento.

The sleek steel and wooden route features elegant iron fences built as futuristic balconies with views of mountain peaks, boats sailing by and the picturesque villages that dot Lake Garda’s shores.

Thick steel poles drilled into the cliffs cling like artificial claws to support the catwalk, seemingly defying gravity. The path’s designers say it will blend into Garda’s stunning scenery.

Cyclists and pedestrians

Garda By Bike: A bike path that "floats" over the water is under construction around Italy's stunning Lake Garda.

Major project: The new bike route is being built at the cost of $124 million and is expected to be completed by 2021.

Most beautiful: When finished, the 140-kilometer circuit of Lake Garda is likely to be one of the most beautiful cycling routes in Europe, if not the world.

Shared use: Both cyclists and pedestrians will be able to use the 2.6-meter-wide path to enjoy spectacular views of one of Italy's most popular lakes.

Opening soon: The route is already half-built and a five-kilometer section of track will open in July 2018.

Blending in: Antonio Lotti, chief engineer at path designers Studio Fontana & Lotti-Lorenzi, tells CNN Travel that the path, 60 meters above the crystal-clear water, will blend with its surroundings.

Natural setting: "We limited environmental impact by balancing, in an optimal way, design and safety needs with preserving the natural setting of the cliffs and shrubs growing on the rocks," says engineer Antonio Lotti.

Big attraction: Once complete, the cycle route is expected to become one of Italy's most popular tourist attractions.

Cycle challenges: The route will have more challenging sections rising into mountainous lakeside terrain, but alternative boat services will be available.

Bike haven: Lake Garda is already a major draw for the cyclists who enjoy trails leading into the foothills of the nearby Dolomite mountain range.

Photos reveal Lake Garda's incredible new bike route

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“We limited environmental impact by balancing, in an optimal way, design and safety needs with preserving the natural setting of the cliffs and shrubs growing on the rocks,” Antonio Lotti, chief engineer at Studio Fontana & Lotti-Lorenzi, tells CNN Travel.

Lotti says the path is already half-built and a strip of roughly five kilometers (three miles) near the town of Limone Sul Garda will open in early July.

Over-lake sections of the path will connect with more challenging sections that rise up into the hillsides, but these can be skipped using Garda’s numerous boat connections.

The good news is that the whole path won’t be exclusive to cyclists but also accessible to pedestrians.

Viewpoints and refreshment booths are expected to be built at a later stage to allow visitors admire sweeping panoramas of Italy’s most beloved lake and enjoy romantic sunsets.

The route is fated to become one of Italy’s top year-round tourism draws and has already been hailed as “Europe’s most beautiful bike ride” by local media.