Vellone–Sacro Monte funicular, Funicular railway in Varese, Italy.
The Vellone-Sacro Monte funicular is a cable railway in Varese that connects the Vellone valley to a hilltop village and sanctuary. The route spans 371 meters and features a passing loop to allow cars to cross.
The cable railway first opened in May 1909 to serve the growing pilgrimage traffic to the hilltop sanctuary. Following decades of intermittent closures and maintenance work, it returned to service with modern equipment in recent years.
The funicular's upper terminus sits in the village of Santa Maria del Monte, beside the Sacro Monte di Varese and its sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna. The line was built to carry visitors and pilgrims up from the Vellone valley, and in its first year of operation it carried 94,674 passengers.
The journey takes about three minutes and climbs a steep slope to reach the top station. Check current operating times before your visit, as schedules may vary throughout the year.
This railway climbs at an incline steeper than 56 percent, rising about 168 meters (551 feet) over its short route. The extreme angle makes it a notable engineering accomplishment for its time and an intense experience for riders.
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