The Funicular looks like one of those
little trains of the Western movies pursued by the Red
Indians and even its age brings us back to that period:
1898.
At the end of the XIX century, Mr. Alessandro Ferretti,
an engineer from Genoa, had the idea to realize a ropeway
between
Montecatini
Alto and Montecatini Terme, called respectively
"the Castle" and "the Montecatini Baths".
He obtained the relative licence by the Montecatini Municipality
on October 8 1896 but he needed to find the necessary
financing for this complex and expensive work.
He found his capital partners in Genoa: Mr. Carlo Barbano
and Mr. Giacomo Giovannetti (the square next to the Funicular
is named after them)
They took about 4 months to terminate the studies relative
to the layout and to the location of the stations and
to carry out the on-the-spot investigations on the lands
where the Funicular would have run through and their consequent
expropriation; in the end, on February 11, 1897, the majority
partner, Mr. Carlo Barbano, sent to the Montecatini Terme
Municipality "copy of the final layout and of the
longitudinal profile of the Funicular according to the
finally selected way and for which the definitive expropriation
contracts were being entered into, according to the preliminary
agreements taken with the land owners".
On March 1, 1897 the first rail works began. The dream
of many inhabitants of Montecatini to be easily connected
to the "Castle" was about to come true.
The excavation and building works such as viaducts and
bridges and the track laying lasted some months.
The beginning of 1898 was employed for the technical improvements
of the facility and especially in preparing the great
opening ceremony which took place on June 4, 1898 with
the participation of famous people such as the genius
of the opera, Giuseppe Verdi.
Up to 1921 the two red little trains were operated by
a big steam boiler located in the uphill station; subsequently,
thanks to electricity, traction was carried out by a powerful
electric motor.
The Funicular service went on safely up to September 2,
1944 when a troop of sappers in retreat, in setting off
some charges arranged in various sides of the facility
caused serious damaged to it, making it unserviceable
up to 1949. A Florentine entrepreneur, in collaboration
with the Montecatini Municipality carried out the restoration
works necessary for its reopening.
The end of the war was followed by the years of the economic
recovery. Montecatini became a very attractive thermal
resort for thousands of people during summer and the Funicular
was more and more utilized by the tourists who wish to
visit the "Castle".
In 1977 following some difficulties due to the facility
upgrading and fitting works, the Funicular was closed
and reopened only with the contribution of the Tuscany
Region allowing the coaches restoration, the installation
of a new motor and of a very modern "black box"
for the trip control.
The activity reopening took place on August 3, 1982. Since
then in order to make the vehicle safer to passengers,
various mechanical traction parts have been replaced and
very important upgrading works have been realized.
The two historical coaches, which "greet" half
way, have not been modified.
The structure is the same: three compartments with wooden
benches and two external balconies, the most longed-for
places from which you can enjoy a wonderful panorama.
