Text and photos by Michel AZEMA (The black and white pictures are from the book "Binari ai Laghi" Adriano Betti Carboncini). Varese Index | Maps | Campo dei Fiori | Sacro Monte | Vellone | Kursaal | Menu
Santa Maria del Monte on the Sacro Monte. (Note the vestiges of tracks and the 84m siding) |
The project of the engineer Vittorio Brazzi was to prolong the actual line Varese-Prima Cappella to Vellone.
From Vellone, two funiculars would be built. One up to Sacro Monte and Santa Maria del Monte
and the second one up to the Monte Tre Croci and Monte Campo dei Fiori.
This project was proposed the 2nd August 1907 and accepted only the 6th April 1911.
18 months were necessary to built the funiculare Vellone-Sacro Monte.
The inauguration was in June 1911.
Upper station in 1911. |
Actual state of the upper station. |
Vellone, the lower station. |
Type of funicular | |
---|---|
Type of tracks | |
Energy | |
Lower station / Altitude | Vellone / 630,85m |
Upper station / Altitude | Santa Maria del Monte / 798,25m |
Diff. of levels | 167,4m |
Length | 384m |
Min. Gradient | 40,5% |
Max. Gradient | 56,5% |
Gauge | 1m |
Cabins | 2 red color 3 closed compartments 2 opened compartments Total: 60 passengers |
Length of the cabin | 8,26m |
Width of the cabin | 2,08m |
Bridge | 6 arches of 4m and 6 arches of 5m |
Copyright 1996 by Michel Azéma, Paris (France) E-Mail: contact