Lisbon has many steep hills - the city is nicknamed ‘The City of Seven Hills’. This posed significant challenges to its citizens over the centuries. These challenges were initially overcome by installing inclines pulled by animals. During the industrial age several steam-powered funiculars (lifts or elevators) were built to help locals and tourists climb the steep and long slopes that are so characteristic in Lisbon. Several are still used to this day, now run by electricity. One of these funiculars is the Elevador de Santa Justa.
The elevator was built by the Portuguese engineer Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard, who was once a student of the great iron craftsman Gustave Eiffel, whose crowning glory was the magnificent Eiffel Tower. Construction of the elevator began in 1900 and was finished in 1902. The tower of the elevator is 45 meters tall and includes two elevator cabins, decorated in wood, mirrors and windows, and has a capacity of 29 passengers in each. At the top of the elevator there is a viewing platform which provides great views of the city.
We decided to give it a try before the tourist season begins and it becomes impossible to do so. We boarded it downtown - the lower part of Lisbon - and were lifted to the upper district of Bairro Alto - which would be a very steep vertical walk otherwise.😀 These are the city's lowest and highest points.
The Santa Justa Lift was inaugurated as one of the city’s public transport systems on 10th July 1902.
Lisbon’s residents were so excited to try this novelty, that over 3000 tickets were sold on that first day.
It is one of the symbols for Lisbon. If you ask me it looks a bit awkward and squeezed in between buildings. But at the same time, it fits perfectly there. If you come to the bottom of the lift you will see a line because let’s face it – there is always a line to the Santa Justa Lift.
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