A Journey Through Time: The Funicular of San Pellegrino Terme
The year 1906 marked the beginning of an ambitious plan to construct a funicular in San Pellegrino Terme. At that time, the Casinò was under construction, and the Val Brembana railway had just reached the town, complementing the recently opened Grand Hotel.
This exciting project was initiated by the “Fonte Bracca” company, known for capturing and bottling mineral water in Bracca, just 5 kilometers from San Pellegrino Terme. The design was crafted by Engineer Villoresi, famed for his work on the Como-Brunate funicular. The construction was carried out by Ceretti and Tanfani, a Milanese firm specializing in cableway systems. The funicular was officially inaugurated on July 25, 1909, alongside the Albergo delle Terme in Bracca.
After World War II, the funicular was transferred from the Fonte Bracca company to the Gestione Fonti Minerali spa (Sanpellegrino spa). During this period, the funicular included three stops along its route—Paradiso, Aplecchio, and Botta—in addition to the departure and arrival stations.
However, in 1989, the funicular ceased operations, signaling a decline in tourism for San Pellegrino Terme. In 2001, both the funicular and the Albergo Vetta, owned by Sanpellegrino spa, were donated to the municipality to revitalize tourism efforts.
Today, the lower station serves as the home of the Centro Storico Culturale Valle Brembana “F. Riceputi.”
Opening Hours:
- From June 14 to August 5: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays.
- From August 9 to August 26: Daily, except for Tuesday, August 13, and Tuesday, August 20.
- On August 30 and 31, and September 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 14, and 15.
Operating Hours:
10 AM to 8 PM.
Tickets: €6 for a round trip and €4 for a one-way journey.
Italian