The historic Monte cable car closes
14 June 2026, 9.00 pm, Mezzocorona: the tram left the station for the last time.
This marks the end of a service that began in 1965, pending the new system.
With its final journey on 14 June, one of the most unique cable cars in the Italian Alps is being taken out of service. From 15 June, construction will begin in Mezzocorona on the new cable car system, costing over 11 million euros, which is set to link the valley floor to the mountain, the plateau suspended above the Piana Rotaliana, which for sixty years has been accessible via one of the most spectacular rock faces in the Eastern Alps.
For the Trentino community, this marks the beginning of a phase set to shape the region’s future. On a broader scale, the project addresses key issues for contemporary Alpine regions, from mountain transport to the accessibility of high-altitude areas.
The project is also significant due to the characteristics of the setting in which it will be built. The new cableway will be constructed on a slope of particular morphological complexity, in an area where the cableway is the main means of access to a settlement frequented throughout the year by residents, hikers and visitors. The design challenge lies in a demanding route, which requires technical solutions capable of ensuring high standards of safety and reliability.
The new infrastructure will be a two-cable, reversible cable car with 25-seater cabins, designed to replace the current 7-passenger system. The construction of the project has been entrusted to Doppelmayr Italia, one of the leading international companies in the sector. The aim is to increase transport capacity and improve the efficiency of the link between the village and the plateau.
Monte di Mezzocorona has long been a unique feature of the Alpine landscape. At an altitude of around 900 metres lies a plateau characterised by footpaths, green spaces and leisure facilities. It can be reached almost exclusively on foot or by cable car, and this unique situation has helped to preserve its distinctive landscape over time.
In recent years, the mountain has broadened its appeal thanks to projects that have raised its profile even beyond regional borders, such as the panoramic skywalk and the suspension bridge. The new cable car forms part of this development as infrastructure designed to support ever-increasing visitor numbers.
The investment figures
The total cost of the project exceeds 11 million euros. The contribution from the Autonomous Province of Trento amounts to 8.6 million euros. The Municipality of Mezzocorona and the company Funivia Monte di Mezzocorona are contributing 2.75 million from their own resources. Usage figures confirm the importance of this link. In 2025, there were 190,678 total journeys, following the record set in 2024 with over 206,000 users. These figures are particularly significant for a town the size of Mezzocorona and demonstrate the growing interest in the mountain as a destination for hiking and tourism.
The closure of the historic cable car marks the end of a chapter that began in 1965. From the following day, work will begin on the new link between the village and the plateau. This project builds on a legacy of sixty years of history and will provide access to one of the most recognisable sites in the Piana Rotaliana for generations to come.
News report of 14 June 2026
Hundreds of people gathered last night at the valley station to watch the final journey of the Monte cable car. Through the“Oltre la Filada”initiative, the community bid farewell to the cable car, which began operating in 1965 and is set to make way for the new infrastructure due to be built in the coming months. The aim set by the company and the local council is to have the new link inaugurated by next summer.
From late afternoon onwards, the station forecourt filled up. Live music and food stalls provided the backdrop to an evening that drew a large crowd.
The most eagerly awaited moment came at 9 pm with the departure of the final journey. Among those on board were the five residents selected at random from the crowd. The cabin thus made its final journey along the slope linking the village to the mountain, bringing to a close over sixty years of service.
“The community’s participation bears witness to the bond forged over more than sixty years of service,” commented Alois Furlan, chairman of the Monte di Mezzocorona Cable Car. “This cable car has been part of the area’s growth and the daily lives of generations of residents. Today, an important chapter in our history comes to a close and a project looking ahead to the coming decades takes shape.”
“This is a historic milestone for Mezzocorona,” adds Mayor Mattia Hauser. “In a year’s time, we will have the opportunity to inaugurate the new cable car. The aim is to build a model of sustainable development capable of enhancing the mountain and strengthening the bond that has always united the mountain with the village.”
The figures help to illustrate the role played by the infrastructure. From 2004 to the present day, the cable car has made around 490,000 ‘filade’ – the term used to describe journeys between the valley and the mountain. That’s almost half a million journeys along the route connecting the village to the plateau.
With the end of the service, the project for the new cableway is now entering its operational phase. The total investment exceeds 11 million euros. The Autonomous Province of Trento is contributing 8.6 million, whilst the Municipality of Mezzocorona and the company Funivia Monte di Mezzocorona are supporting the project with 2.75 million euros.
The new infrastructure will be a two-cable, reversible cable car with 25-seater cabins, designed to replace the current seven-passenger system. The project has been awarded to Doppelmayr Italia. In 2025, the total number of passengers was 190,678, whilst in 2024 an all-time record of over 206,000 passengers was set.
