A TOURIST attraction in a popular European capital has opened after years spent constructing it.
The €7million (£5.9m) project was finally completed in Lisbon earlier this week, providing tourists and locals with an exciting new way to take in some of the city’s best views.
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The Graça Funicular will connect the Graça neighbourhood in the Portuguese capital to the Moorish Quarter, Mouraria.
This is a multicultural neighbourhood where Asian, African, and Arabic shops and restaurants surround the famous Martim Moniz square.
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The funicular was opened on Tuesday, March 12, some 15 years after construction started.
It will provide a route from Rua dos Lagares, in Mouraria, to the Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen Viewpoint, in front of the Graça church.
The Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, officially unveiled the funicular, describing it as “unique”.
He told Portugal News: “We managed to untie this knot, untie the knot of a problem that Lisbon residents have been waiting for so long for.
“Now we will have it here, free of charge, for our Lisbon residents to go up between Mouraria and Graça. It’s a unique moment.”
The funicular brings back something that previously existed in the city 120 years ago, when there was an elevator in the area between Graça and Rua da Palma.
The single route has only two stopping points and can carry a maximum capacity of 14 people per trip.
Each journey takes around a minute and a half.
According to Mayor Moedas, trips will initially be free, in keeping with Lisbon’s reputation as the cheapest city in Europe.
However, fees will eventually be introduced, except for Navegante pass holders, who will continue getting access without charge.
The funicular will operate every day between 9am and 9pm.
Pictures of the new lift were shared on social media, with people impressed by what they’d seen.
Three scenic train journeys you can take in the UK
Cornish Coast – One trip that rail enthusiasts seem to love is along a stretch of the Cornish coast and takes just 10 minutes to complete.
The route from St Erth to St Ives only stops at Carbis Bay en route to its final destination, but the views out the window for the whole journey are pretty spectacular.
Another highlight of the journey is that St Ives station is situated right next to Porthminster beach, meaning the sand and sea can be accessed almost immediately.
Meanwhile, the station is less than a ten minute walk into town, where the harbour, shops, galleries and pubs can be explored.
Durham to Edinburgh – Another train route that people in the UK love is the East Coast train line between Durham and Edinburgh, with coastal views and city landscapes among the sights that can be seen out the window.
Newcastle, Berwick, Lindisfarne and Durham Cathedral are all among the highlights on that route.
Scotland’s West Highland Line – While Scotland is home to plenty of famous landmarks and top attractions, it also has one of the most breathtaking train routes in the world.
Scotland’s West Highland Line has previously been dubbed the best rail journey in the world by Wanderlust – and it’s easy to see why.
The journey from Glasgow to Fort William is one of my favourite train routes – and I’ve interrailed through mainland Europe.
With mountain landscapes, serene lochs, wistful moors, and wildlife all visible through the train window, it’s certainly a route all holidaymakers should consider doing at least once.
One commented: “The city of three beautiful old funiculars, has just added a fourth modern one!”
Another added: “I won’t have to climb those endless stairs again.”
The main draw of the funicular for tourists is its increased access to the Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen Viewpoint
It’s described on TripAdvisor as “one of the most beautiful and welcoming terraces of Lisbon”.
A small kiosk that serves food and drink to its visitors as they look out over the rest of the city.
It’s not the only funicular in Europe with plans to open, with one in the UK hoping to be relaunched some time in the future.
Scotland
The popular ride is the Cairngorm Mountain Railway funicular in Scotland.
The railway, which is the highest in the UK, takes passengers along a 2km track through parts of the Cairngorms National Park.
However, since last August, visitors have not been able to ride the train due to ongoing maintenance work.
It had only reopened for the first time in more than four years in January 2023, following £25m worth of repairs.
It was hoped that the railway could be reopened soon, but Highlands and Islands Enterprise, who operate the train, has now revealed that there is still no clear return date for the train.
Meanwhile, this 300-year-old attraction is found hidden away in a UK city.
And this attraction is set to reopen in 2026 after making a big move.
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