Updated on 30 August 2024
Original article published on 10 October 2018
Conquering the hills was one of the problems of accessibility in Lisbon in the 19th century. The lifts and funiculars of Lisbon solved this problem and the ones that still exist today are classified since 2002 as National Monuments.
Lisbon’s relief is characterised by hills separated by valleys where once streams flowed in
When the transport of people and goods were exclusively made on foot or in animal-powered transport, we can imagine that what was close seemed far away when having to go up steep slopes.
Get to know Lisbon’s historic neighbourhoods in a guided tour and discover unmissable places of this magnificent city.
Raoul Mesnier Ponsard
The urban expansion of Lisbon from the end of the 1870’s, associated
He was the responsible engineer for the project of all the lifts and funiculars of Lisbon, as well as of identical projects in Braga, Porto, Nazaré and Funchal. Contrary to what is usually said, there is no written proof that this engineer was a student from nor worked with the famous Gustave Eiffel (1832-1923). Either way, Ponsard knew Eiffel’s work and it’s even likely that he met him. Both because Ponsard studied in Paris, and because Eiffel lived in the north of Portugal between 1875 and 1877 and left there a vast number of works.
In any case, what is certain is that Raoul Mesnier Ponsard was responsible for the conception of the lifts and funiculars of Lisbon.
Lifts and Funiculars of Lisbon
There used to be nine lifts and funiculars of Lisbon:
- Lavra Funicular – 1884
- Glória Funicular – 1885
- Camões/Estrela Funicular – 1890 /dismantled in 1913
- Chiado Lift – 1892; private initiative, it was located inside the building of the old Armazéns do Chiado (Chiado Department Store) and connected the Rua do Crucifixo to the Rua Nova, nowadays Rua do Carmo
- Bica Funicular – 1892
- Graça Funicular – 1893 /dismantled in 1909
- São Julião Lift – 1897 / dismantled in 1915
- São Sebastião Funicular – 1899 / dismantled in 1901
- Santa Justa Lift – 1902
The operation of the funiculars consisted in a system of a rack and a cable counter balanced by water. This system was not very effective because the city of Lisbon suffered from frequent cuts in water supply which led to the constraint of the use of this equipment.
It was for that reason that the system was first replaced by a steam engine and shortly after, from 1912, permanently electrified.
Some of this equipment didn’t last very long, having been replaced by trams. This is the case of the Camões/Estrela, Graça and São Sebastião Funiculars.
The 4 National Monument Equipment and Their Route
Lavra Funicular
The Lavra Funicular is situated in Calçada do Lavra and connects upwards the Largo da Anunciada and the Rua Câmara Pestana in Santana Hill.
It is the oldest of the lifts and funiculars of Lisbon.
Glória Funicular
The Glória Funicular is situated in Calçada da Glória and connects upwards the Praça dos Restauradores and the Rua de São Pedro de Alcântara in Bairro Alto.
In 1926, the exploitation of this equipment passed from the Companhia de Ascensores Mechanicos de Lisboa to the Companhia de Carris de Ferro de Lisboa. At that time was built, on the side of Praçados Restauradores, a shelter for the passengers of which today unfortunately only photos remain.
The shelter was removed in 1937, allegedly because it was criticised by the public opinion.
It doesn’t seem likely that, on the one hand, the public opinion was relevant at the time, and on the other hand, that the users of the equipment would have preferred to be subject to the bad weather. Perhaps the shelter needed maintenance works and it was easier and cheaper to remove it. In one way or another, a magnificent piece of urban furniture, which certainly enriched and embellished the city, was lost.
Later
Bica Funicular
The Bica Funicular is situated in Rua da Bica de
This funicular, which crosses one of the considered most beautiful streets of the world, suffered during its electrification, in the
Santa Justa Lift
The Santa Justa Lift is located in Rua de Santa Justa and connects upwards
It is currently one of the rare exemplars of Cast-Iron Architecture in Lisbon. It stands out not only because it is a high tower, all in iron, implanted in the middle of the sober buildings of Pombaline Downtown, but also by the magnificent neo-Gothic revival style decoration. In addition to being a lift, it constitutes a viewpoint itself.
This lift has lost its function some time ago. It’s true that it still connects Baixa to Carmo, but today only tourists frequent it, waiting in long queues to enter the beautiful cabins covered with wood and mirrors, in order to enjoy a privileged view over the historic centre of the city and the river on the top floor.
If you don’t have the patience to wait, you can access the walkway via the Carmo Terraces and, although you won’t be reaching the top, you can still be dazzled by the centre of Lisbon at your feet.
For a more functional
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The 21st Century Brought More Facilities
Castelo de São Jorge-Baixa Lift
In 2013 was inaugurated a new equipment that helped conquer the highest elevation of the city, the hill of the Castle. It consists of two lifts that complement each other and that, without a doubt, facilitate the steep slope to the zone of the São Jorge Castle. They were ordered by the City Council of Lisbon and projected by the atelier of the architect João Pedro Falcão de Campos.
Going upwards, we find a first lift inserted in a building of the Rua dos Fanqueiros 178 that makes the connection to Rua da Madalena. A second lift that is located in the old market of the Chão do Loureiro’sbuilding (now a public car park) takes us, in turn, to Costa do Castelo. They are both free of charge.
We suggest you take the opportunity to discover the fabulous Urban Art of Chão do Loureiro Car Park.
Santa Luzia Lift
Also located inside a building, which was restored for this purpose, this discreet lift connects the Santa Luzia Viewpoint and the Rua Norberto de Araújo in Alfama. It was inaugurated on June 10, 2015, at the same time as the Carmo Terraces next to the Carmo Ruins. This free of charge equipment, allows the locals and tourists to get around more easily.
Graça Funicular
The Graça Funicular was inaugurated on March 12, 2024, restoring the connection between the Mouraria and Graça neighbourhoods with this type of transportation, just as it was over a century ago.
From 1893 to 1904, a similar facility linked Rua da Palma to Graça, but it was dismantled in 1909.
The current funicular, with a capacity for 14 passengers, operates on a single track between Rua dos Lagares and the Miradouro Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, where you can enjoy one of the most breathtaking views of Lisbon.
Curious Fact
A new way of overcoming the hills has recently been implemented. Through escalators, the steep and long Escadinhas da Súde, which connect Martim Moniz Square to the Rua Marquês de Ponte de Lima, are no longer an obstacle and have even become a curious attraction for locals and tourists.
Stroll through the hills of Lisbon taking advantage of the lifts and funiculars of Lisbon, this facility helps you conquer slopes and, at the same time, constitutes a curious experience with so many stories to tell.
The project getLISBON has been very rewarding and we want to continue revealing the singularities of fascinating Lisbon.
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