The
second pyramid which dominates the Lake of Lugano
is the Monte San Salvatore (912 meters). The summit
can be reached with the funicular Monte San Salvatore
which was built in 1890.
The configuration of this funicular is very special,
most probably unique. It is composed of two separated
half-sections but with only one engine and machine
room which is located at the middle of the line
at Pazzallo. The passengers get into the first
cabin at Paradiso, then at Pazzallo station they
have to get out the cabin 1, cross the platform
and get in the cabin 2 to reach the summit with
the second half-section.
There is no siding in this configuration. Each
of the two half-section is a single track.
From the top of the Monte San Salvatore the 360°
panorama is absolutely wonderful with the Lake
of Lugano, the isthmus of Mélide, the Monte
Generoso and the Italian enclave of Campione on
the other side of the lake. Campione if famous
for its gambling Casino (gambling is forbidden
in Switzerland). Note that there was a project,
never made, to build a cable way from Sighignola
(Italy) at the top of the mountain to allow the
Italians to reach the Italian enclave of Campione
from Lanzo d'Intelvi!
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