Bergamo Funicular railway Upper Town - Lower Town, Funicular railway in Bergamo, Italy

The Funicolare di Bergamo Alta is a twin-track funicular climbing from the lower town at 271 m above sea level to Città Alta at 356 m. Its two steel tracks, 240 m on the right and 234 m on the left, lie on stone and concrete sleepers between low concrete walls, with rollers and pulleys mounted between the rails and lamps hung from a pole above. The ride takes two minutes.

The funicular opened on 20 September 1887, built to Alessandro Ferretti's project as a va e vieni line from viale Vittorio Emanuele II in the lower town, through the Venetian walls, to palazzo Rota then Suardi at piazza Mercato delle Scarpe. After World War I the municipal AMFTE took over, and the line was rebuilt in 1920–21 with new stations and cars from Officine meccaniche Stigler. The lower station was renewed in 1954, panoramic cars arrived in 1963–64, and in 1988 Ceretti e Tanfani cars with 55 seats entered service.

The upper station opens onto Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe, whose name recalls the shoe market once held there. The line has run since 20 September 1887, when the first car left the lower station on viale Vittorio Emanuele II and crossed the Venetian walls into Città Alta.

The ride is brief and straightforward, with frequent departures throughout the day. Both stations connect directly to local buses and other public transport options in the city.

The two tracks have different lengths, with one side measuring about 240 meters and the other about 234 meters, revealing an asymmetrical design. This unusual arrangement allows the cars to adjust to the steep hillside.