Mendola funicular

The historical funicular steadily runs from S. Antonio to Passo Mendola.

The Mendola funicular is located at the foot of the Mendola in the locality of S. Antonio. The Mendola is considered to be the local mountain and has always been a popular summer health resort. However, in these times people were not in possession of a car and the mountain was also a summer resort for aristocrats as well as tourists. More than 100 years ago people strived for the idea to build a funicular, which guarantees the transport on the Mendola mountain.

The Mendola funicular has been built 1903 in S. Antonio and connected the health resorts Mendola and Gries near Bolzano in a very comfortable way. Within 14 months the facility has been completed under the direction of the Swiss architect Emil Strub.

The Mendola funicular is a very steep funicular, which reaches its destination on 2,370 m asl within 12 minutes only, overcoming an altitude difference of 854 m. Every twenty minutes it transports people up and down the mountain both in summer and winter.
The funicular is characterised by a gradient ranging from 57 to 64 %.
A long time ago the funicular, which starts at the station of Caldaro, has been called Mendola funicular. This part does no longer exist, as in 1963 it has been closed down together with the Oltradige train. Today this service is offered by the Citybus and other local buses.

The emperor Franz Josef, who was probably the most famous guest, used the funicular to get to the largest military manoeuvres in Val di Non.
However, the Mendola funicular was very popular, but had to be closed down for safety reasons in 1983. In 1988 the Mendola funicular could recommence operations. Today the Mendola funicular operations were organised by a company for public transport.

Still today many inhabitants of Caldaro go on the Mendola for “holidays” in order to enjoy the great panoramic view on the Oltradige up to the Dolomites and to find rest and relaxation from summer heat in the valley. From the Mendola you can also hike onto the Penegal, Gantkofel or Roen mountain.

In 2009 the laborious and time-robbing revisions have temporary been brought to an end, as two glass cabins, providing a great view, run up and down the mountain. The ancient Mendola funicular has been arranged at the valley station of the funicular.
By the way, a ride with this funicular is much more pleasant than a car ride on the 15 hairpin bends.

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