One of the steepest climbs that can be tackled (by train) in Europe starts near Piotta, a tiny Swiss hamlet in the municipality of Quinto, in Val Leventina. You don’t need mountaineering equipment, a ticket and twelve minutes of patience are enough. Upon arrival, at an altitude of 1793 metres, the landscape changes tone and will put you in front of larch woods, suspended pastures and a Caribbean-coloured lake.
A gradient of 87.8%: among the steepest funiculars in the world
The Ritom Funicular runs along 1,369 meters of track and overcomes a height difference of 786 meters with a maximum gradient of 87.8%. It is a value that places it among the steepest funiculars open to the public in the world, even if the absolute record goes to another Swiss installation, the Stoosbahn in the canton of Schwyz, which with a gradient of 110% is defined by Switzerland Tourism as the steepest system ever.
@ritom.ch
The Ticino plant was founded in 1917, not for tourism but for industrial necessity, given that it was used to transport men and materials during the construction of the Ritom hydroelectric power plant, commissioned by the Swiss Federal Railways. The direction of the works was entrusted to the engineer Cesare Lucchini, while the drum winch system (with a single car, without switches) was supplied by the Von Roll company, as documented by the Swiss Inventory of cableways, managed by the Federal Office of Culture. Only in 1921, once the works were completed, did the funicular open to the public. Since 2003 it has been managed by the Funicolare Ritom SA company, owned by the municipality of Quinto.
Lake Ritom, the turquoise water in the middle of the Alps
Waiting for those arriving at the mountain station is Lake Ritom, the largest mountain lake in Ticino. Its waters take on turquoise shades that depend on the nature of the basin and the glacial sediments, framed by larches and high altitude pastures. An educational trail runs around the lake which tells about the flora, fauna and history of the area, also suitable for those looking for an undemanding walk after the climb.
If you want to go further, you will find a good base at the Lago Ritom Refuge, which can be reached on foot in about twenty minutes from Piora station along a flat road, or you could continue towards the Passo del Sole and the Alta Leventina following the itineraries indicated by the Swiss Alpine Club.
How to get there
Piotta is located along the San Gottardo railway line: from Airolo station a post bus takes you to the Piotta Posta stop, a few minutes walk from the funicular departure station. By car, exit at the Quinto motorway exit, on the A2. Starting from Como the route crosses the border, Lugano and Bellinzona before going up the Leventina.
