Zecca–Righi funicular

The Zecca-Righi funicular is a mountain railway in Genoa that connects downtown with the elevated Righi district through seven stations. The line uses underground tunnels and hillside sections to climb across roughly 1,400 meters.

Operations began in 1895 with the upper section, while the lower underground portion opened in 1897, completing the full connection. These two opening phases established a new way for people to reach the higher parts of the city.

The route passes by the Sanctuary of Madonnetta, where you can see a permanent exhibition showing medieval Genoese life through nativity scenes. The place tells the story of daily life in earlier centuries and how people lived back then.

The line runs every 15 minutes and has been free since 2021. Each train holds about 156 passengers and accepts bicycles, making access to the higher areas straightforward for everyone.

The line climbs about 280 meters and must handle slopes up to 35 percent. These extreme gradients require special engineering to safely guide trains across both underground and open track sections.