Bica Elevator

Before your eyes is the Ascensor da Bica, a bright yellow funicular that has been hauling passengers up one of the steepest streets in the city since 28 June 1892. This ingenious cable car connects the busy waterfront area of Cais do Sodré with the hilltop neighbourhood of Bica along Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo. French born engineer Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard designed it to solve a brutal problem: fishermen, vendors and residents were exhausting themselves daily climbing the relentless incline with heavy loads. The original system was remarkably clever.

The upper car was filled with 600 litres of water, making it heavy enough to descend by gravity while pulling the lower car upward as a counterweight. Though the mechanical motor arrived in 1890, authorities spent two years testing before allowing public use of the steam powered system. This was du Ponsard's third funicular in the capital, after Lavra in 1884 and Glória in 1885. The 245 metre track climbs at a steep 17.5 percent gradient, transforming what was once a grueling trek into a swift 3 minute ride that remains essential for locals navigating these challenging streets.