Montenero Funicular, Funicular railway in Montenero district, Livorno, Italy.
The Montenero Funicular is a 656-meter cable railway connecting two plazas at different elevations while carrying passengers from the lower district up to the sanctuary. The single-rail system relies on solar power to operate, moving people steadily up the steep hillside.
The railway opened in 1908 and was Italy's first electrically powered transportation system of this type. This project demonstrated Livorno's forward-thinking approach to modern transport solutions and urban connectivity.
The funicular serves as a practical link to one of Livorno's most important religious sites, making the spiritual journey to the sanctuary accessible to all visitors. The ride itself has become part of the visiting experience for the many faithful and tourists who come to the hilltop shrine.
The ride takes just a few minutes and is easy to reach since the lower station is accessible directly from town. As you travel, you get good views of the city and coastline below.
In the middle section of the track, there is a 20-meter section where the two carriages pass each other on the same rail. This head-on meeting during the ride is a clever engineering detail from that era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
