Genoa has the particularity of being located between the sea and the mountains and being built on a slope, the city is connected to the hillside districts by narrow, steep streets (the creuze, in Genoese).
To facilitate travel, Genoa has over the years developed an efficient vertical transport system consisting of lifts, funiculars, rack railways and historic railways, connecting the areas near the harbour with those on the hills.
In addition to reducing traffic and optimising time, these lifts offer a characteristic journey between Genoa‘s different districts, allowing visitors to admire the city’s fabulous panorama from above.
Let’s discover together the main lifts, funiculars, rack railways, and historic railways in Genoa and the tourist attractions that can be reached using these characteristic alternative means of transport.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets can be purchased at newsstands, Amt ticket offices, and on the official Amt Genova website.
The ticket costs € 2 and is valid for 110 minutes. There is also a 24-hour ticket at an affordable price of € 10.
Genoa’s vertical means of transport: lifts, funiculars and historical railways
Lifts in Genoa
There are a total of fourteen lifts in Genoa and, as indicated above, they are used to connect the hilly areas of the city.
Most of these vertical lifts were built between 1909 and 1980.
Let us look in detail at those that are worth a visit because they lead to some of Genoa’s famous attractions.
Castelletto Levante Lift
The Castelletto Levante lift connects Piazza Portello to Spianata Castelletto, the city’s belvedere, with a 57-metre drop.
The lift, in Art Nouveau style, was built in 1909 and is the oldest lift in Genoa.
It is open every day from 6.40 am to midnight.
At Spianata, you can admire one of the most suggestive views of the city of Genoa. Go to article
Castelletto Ponente lift
Castelletto Ponente lift is also called the twin of Castelletto Levante because it also leads to Spianata Castelletto and the stops are just a few metres apart.
The lower station of Castelletto Ponente is not located, however, in Piazza Portello but in Galleria Garibaldi (between Piazza Portello and Largo Zecca).
The lift is open daily from 6.40 a.m. to midnight.
Montegalletto – Castello d’Albertis lift
Montegalletto – D’Albertis Castle lift connects Via Balbi, near the railway station in Piazza Principe, to Corso Dogali, and takes you to the famous D’Albertis Castle and its museum in just 3 minutes.
The lift was built in 1929 and has the peculiarity of moving, for a section, horizontally (this section was added by Amt only in the 1990s).
The lift car, therefore, moves horizontally on the tracks for about 250 metres and then rises again, making a difference in height of about 100 metres.
Montegalletto – D’Albertis Castle lift departs every 4 minutes with a timetable of 7:10 – 19:50 (weekdays), and 7:15 – 20:55 (holidays).
▶ If you want more information on the D’Albertis Castle, you can read this article.
Genoa Funiculars
Genoa’s funiculars also represent a non-polluting and traffic-free means of vertical transport.
There are two funiculars in operation, the Zecca – Righi funicular and the Sant’Anna funicular.
Zecca – Righi funicular
The Zecca – Righi funicular was built between 1895 and 1897 and makes it possible to travel from the historic centre of Genoa to the heights to the north of the city.
The time taken is 12 minutes and the difference in height covered is 278 metres over a distance of 1428 metres.
There are seven stations where the funicular stops:
- Largo Zecca (terminus)
- Carbonara
- San Nicola
- Madonnetta with the Sanctuary of the same name inside which is the impressive Perennial Crib. Go to article
- Preve
- San Simone
- Righi (terminus)
Funicular is frequently used by locals as well as tourists and hikers as it allows one to reach the Natural Area of the Parco delle Mura in a few minutes, where one can undertake several interesting treks.
The Zecca – Righi funicular operates daily from 6.40 a.m. to midnight, with rides every 15 to 20 minutes.
To ride the funicular, you only need a city transport ticket (€2,00 for 110 minutes). Continue reading
Funicular Sant’Anna
The Sant’Anna funicular is the oldest funicular in Genoa and is estimated to be used by more than one million people every year.
In 2 minutes, it connects Piazza Portello to Corso Magenta with a route of 370 metres and a difference in height of 54 metres.
The Sant’Anna funicular was built in 1891 and operated with the water traction system for almost ninety years.
When the funicular was upstream, it could descend to the valley thanks to the weight carried by a water tank filled by the driver.
The same, it was connected to another car by a rope.
Thus, when it descended the valley, it pulled the other car upstream.
Sant’Anna funicular runs every day from 7 a.m. to 12.30 a.m. and you can use the same ticket as for the lifts (to get on the Zecca – Righi funicular, on the other hand, you have to stamp another ticket).
Sant’Anna funicular owes its name to the 16th-century convent of the same name, located a short distance from the upper station. Continue reading
The Granarolo rack railway
Granarolo rack railway connects the Principe area with the Granarolo district.
It dates back to 1901 and still retains the cog rail, to increase the grip of the tracks on the steepest sections. The rack, in fact, has a height difference of 194 metres and a gradient of up to 21.4%.
It is in service from 6 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on public holidays.
Granarolo rack railway has seven intermediate stops:
- Principe (terminus, near the railway station)
- San Rocco station
- Centurione
- Bari
- Cambiaso
- Chiassaiuola
- Salita Granarolo
- Via Bianco
- Granarolo (terminus, from here there is a wonderful view of Genoa).
Even to travel on the Granarolo rack railway, you only need a simple city transport ticket.
Genoa’s lifts, funiculars and railways: Trenino di Casella
The Genoa-Casella railway is the best preserved historical railway in Italy.
It offers a wonderful scenic route, 24 kilometres long in total, crossing three valleys (Valbisagno, Valpolcevera and Valle Scrivia). Along the route, there are 17 stops where you can get off, hike, visit villages, and taste typical products. If you would like more information on the historic Genoa-Casella Train, you can read this article.
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