The inauguration was presided over by the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, who highlighted the importance of the work for the residents of Graça and Mouraria, who had been waiting for the funicular since 2009 because the project “was at a standstill”.

“We managed to untie this knot, untie the knot of a problem that Lisbon residents have been waiting for so long for and now we will have it here, free of charge, for our Lisbon residents to go up between Mouraria and Graça. It's a unique moment”, said Carlos Moedas (PSD).

Recalling that, 120 years ago, there was an elevator in the area between Graça and Rua da Palma, the mayor highlighted that this work is “unique in the city” and “will serve the people of Lisbon”.

“Since 2009, Lisbon residents have been waiting for this work and we managed to do it and, therefore, it also shows a lot about our way of governing the city. And it is in this aspect that I will continue to govern here”, he stated.

The Graça Funicular will provide the route from Rua dos Lagares, in Mouraria, to the Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen Viewpoint, in front of the Graça church.

It is a single route, made up of rails and with only two stopping points at the beginning of each route, with the capacity to transport a maximum of 14 people per trip, in around a minute and a half.

According to Carlos Moedas, trips will initially be free, and will then be paid for, except for Navegante pass holders.

Initially planned to be managed by Carris, the Graça Funicular will be managed by the Lisbon Mobility and Parking Company – EMEL, and will operate every day between 09:00 and 21:00.