Text and photos by Michel AZEMA
(The black and white pictures are from the book "Binari ai Laghi" Adriano Betti
Carboncini). 
Varese
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Fiori | Sacro Monte | Vellone
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The two societies " Società Varesina " and " Società dei Grandi Alberghi Varesini " decided to promote the Monte Tre Croci on the Monte del Campo dei Fiori.
They decided to build an hotel at the top of Monte Tre Croci: Grand Hotel in pure Italian Liberty style.
To access the hotel the engineer Brezzi planned (1910) to build a new funicular from Vellone to Monte Tre Croci.
The project was accepted the 9th march 1911.
The funicular del Campo dei Fiori was inaugurated the 20th April 1911 with the Belvedere restaurant built by the architect Giuseppe Sommaruga.
 Upper station in 1911 |
 Upper station in 1995 |
 Actual state of the upper station |
 Actual state of the upper station |
 Actual state of the upper station |
 Toilet beside the upper station (in the same Italian Liberty style!) |
 Bridge juste below the upper station |
 The tunnel (note the traces of the track) |
| Type of funicular |  |
|---|---|
| Type of tracks |  |
| Energy |  |
| Lower station / Altitude | Vellone / 630,85m |
| Upper station / Altitude | Monte Tre Croci / 1032m |
| Diff. of levels | 401,15m |
| Length | 807,25m |
| Min. Gradient | 41,65% |
| Max. Gradient | 56% |
| Gauge | 1m |
| Pulleys | 51 vertical 106 inclined |
| Cabins | 2 red color 2 closed compartments 2 opened compartments Total: 50 passengers |
| Length of the cabin | 6,76m |
| Width of the cabin | 2,30m |
| Weigth of the cabin | 4,5t |
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