Nazaré Funicular

Nazaré Funicular (Ascensor de Nazaré)
Funicular (Funicular/Ascensor/Elevador)
A view of one of the modern cars descending from the tunnel
Official name: Ascensor de Nazaré
Named for: Nazaré
Country	Portugal
Region	Norte
Subregion	Greater Porto
District	Porto
Municipality	Nazaré
Location	Nazaré
- coordinates	39°36′18.1″N 9°4′27.9″W / 39.605028°N 9.074417°W / 39.605028; -9.074417Coordinates: 39°36′18.1″N 9°4′27.9″W / 39.605028°N 9.074417°W / 39.605028; -9.074417
Architects	Raul Mesnier du Ponsard
Materials	Steel, Glass, Plastic, Limestone, Ceramic tile, Wood, Iron, Aluminum
Origin	19th century
- Initiated	1891
- Completion	1893
Owner	Portuguese Republic
For public	Public
Easiest access	Rua do Elevador (Praia); Rua do Elevador (Sítio)
Management	Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico
Status	Unclassified
Length	281 metres (922 ft)
Type	Single track with passing loop
Route diagram	318 Sítio n+50 n 159 0 Praia
Website: http://www.metrodoporto.pt

The Nazaré Funicular (Portuguese: Ascensor da Nazaré) is a funicular situated in the civil parish of Nazaré, municipality of Nazaré, in the Portuguese district of Leiria.

From the description of Father Manuel de Brito Alão, the descent from Sítio to Ribeira da Pederneira was accomplished by a steep incline, of loose sand. Much of the nobility that visited the sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Nazaré followed this road, seated on "carpets, that were pulled at the corners, along with their servants, safe and composed". This form of transport was used up to the 19th century. On 15 October 1888, a partnership was developed by Tavares Crespo, Francisco Morais, Joaquim Carneiro D’Alcáçovas de Sousa Chicharro, José Eduardo Ferreira Pinheiro, Barão de Kessler and engineer Raul Mesnier de Ponsard to construct a funicular in Nazaré, with the entity seated in Lisbon. On 28 July 1889, the line was blessed and inaugurated as the funicular of Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, in honour of the Virgin Mary, protector of the town. At the event was the Ministro das Obras Públicas (Minister of Public Works) and the Ministro da Fazenda (Minister of Finances) and Dr. António Lúcio Tavares Crespo, then owner of the line.

Initially, the funicular was moved by a steam-powered machine situated in the area of Sítio, where the promontory overlooking the village led onto a 50 metres (160 ft) tunnel and ramp. The boiler was heated by wood, and since there were no fountains in Sítio, the water for the tank was transported from Praia by two cars.

The funicular line, with an extension of 318 metres (1,043 ft) and 42% slope, follows a channel between the promontory and beach, terminating at the Largo das Caldeiras. The lower terminal is protected by two lateral walls to prevent the invasion of sand. The mechanism, similar to the one used in the funicular of Lavra, came from Germany from the factory of Esslingen-Machinen. The cars used a red livery and transported 60 passengers, but only during the summer beach season, with trips operating between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

In 1918, an allotment of wood was ceded to the funicular to allow it to continue to operate.

On 1 October 1924, the funicular was acquired by the Real Casa, then dominated by the Confraria da Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, with the objective of operating for a year. This was to facilitate ease of access by religious people to the sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, and collect funds to maintain the Hospital de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré. In 1931, a report to the Minister requested authorization to sell to the funicular to the municipal council, along with the electrical station. On 19 December of the same year, the funicular was sold to the municipal council of Nazaré for $398,013.00.