Monte Ceneri transmitter, Broadcasting tower in Monteceneri, Switzerland
The Monte Ceneri transmitter is a 220 meter tall steel lattice mast located on an Alpine pass in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. It houses broadcasting and radio frequency equipment that sends signals across wide areas.
The facility started broadcasting in 1933 using a Marconi system running at 15 kilowatts to serve Radio Suisse Italienne. It was upgraded and expanded over the following decades to adapt to changes in broadcasting technology.
The structure has become a familiar landmark in the Alpine landscape and holds significance for the Italian-speaking community of Switzerland. It marks an important chapter in how broadcasting shaped the region's connection to the wider country.
The mast sits on a mountain ridge and can be seen from hiking paths that pass nearby. The location is best reached on foot or by bicycle, as the nearby roads are narrow with limited parking.
Below the mast sits a reinforced bunker housing the transmitter room and connected by about 120 copper wires spreading out 200 meters underground. This hidden structure was an engineering achievement that protected the sensitive equipment from the elements.
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