Polanco Lift, Historic vertical elevator in Polanco Hill, Valparaíso, Chile.
The Polanco Lift is a vertical elevator in Valparaíso that connects Simpson Street with Polanco Hill through an underground tunnel passage. The ride passes through intermediate stations and climbs inside a tower structure to deliver passengers to the hilltop.
The lift was built in 1915 to solve the problem of steep hills in Valparaíso, and it began operations in 1916. Its arrival changed how people moved up and down the city by offering a mechanical solution to the geography that once limited urban growth.
The lift shaped how people moved through Valparaíso and opened the hilltop neighborhoods to wider communities. It remains a shared space where visitors and residents experience a piece of urban life that connects the lower and upper parts of the city in an intimate way.
You enter at Simpson Street and pass through a tunnel to reach the working stations inside the structure. The ride is most comfortable during off-peak hours when the lift is less crowded and you can take in the journey at your own pace.
Unlike the other lifts scattered around Valparaíso, this one operates as a true vertical elevator with a cabin and cable system rather than functioning as a funicular railway. This technical design makes it stand out among the city's similar transportation structures.
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