THE BLUE FUNICULAR

The funicular was inaugurated in 1907. In just 18 minutes it bridged the 600 metre difference in height from the lake shore below to the beautiful belvedere where there was also a restaurant. At a time when travel was not as easy as it is today, this was a very popular tourist destination, so much so that combined tickets were sold that included a train trip from Milano Centrale, a steamboat trip on the lake and a ride on the funicular up to the belvedere for 10.20 lire on weekdays or 14 lire on holidays.

The funicular operated with ups and downs for many years, transporting thousands of tourists until 1977 when the concession expired and it was abandoned.

As soon as I enter the old arrival station I am greeted by carriage number 2, carriage number 1 is obviously at the valley station. The carriage, which had 33 seats divided into 4 compartments, still retains its elegant Art Nouveau style and its beautiful original blue colour. The rest of the building is occupied by the engine room. Unfortunately, the entire traction apparatus is in a state of disrepair, but still very interesting: the large winch, many mechanisms for transmitting motion, the brakes and the pair of Oerlikon electric motors, each with a power of about 22 kW are still present.

In 2020, thanks to a €200,000 grant from the Lombardy Region, the pre-feasibility project for the reactivation was drawn up, which envisaged a total cost for the reopening of approximately €10 million, in addition to establishing the economic sustainability of the structure for tourism purposes in the event of reopening.