The Argegno-Pigra cable car is a twin-cable reciprocating cable car that has linked Argegno, on the lake, with Pigra, in the Val d’Intelvi, since 1971: six minutes’ climb, over 650 metres of height gain and a vital service for those who live up there, as well as a shortcut for hikers and tourists.
History
The idea of a cable link to Pigra goes back to 1913: the village was hard to reach both from the other centres of the Val d’Intelvi and from the lake. On 23 May 1971 the line was inaugurated: it was promoted by Senator Lorenzo Spallino and the mayors Rocco Peduzzi and Dante Rosati. On 20 May 2010 the Ministry of Transport had it closed because there were no funds for maintenance: funding and a strong popular initiative allowed it to reopen on 16 June 2011 (Wikipedia). Another closure, for almost two years of renovation work, ended on 9 August 2024: on that occasion the service passed to ATM, which had obtained the management through a public notice from the Local Public Transport Agency of Como, Lecco and Varese (VareseNews).
What to see
For the Comune of Pigra the cable car is “an essential and indispensable service”: it lets students and workers go down every day to Argegno, a hub for boats and buses to the Upper Lake and Como, avoiding provincial road 13 between San Fedele Intelvi and Pigra, narrow and often impassable because of snow, ice or small landslides. In summer many hikers take it who are aiming for Monte Galbiga, the Alpe di Colonno or the Tellero. Pigra is described by Argegno’s tourist site as “the most beautiful terrace of the Como Prealps”, with a view over the lake.
Getting there
The lower station is about 100 metres on foot from Argegno’s landing stage, served by several boat lines. By bus: line C110, stop Argegno Stazione Funivia; lines C120 and C125, stop piazza Testi (landing stage) (ATM). Those arriving by car can leave it in the car park of piazza Giovanni Grandi, in front of the parish church, about five minutes’ walk away: from the church take the stairs on the left side, follow the “Funicolare” sign to the right and then cross at the traffic-light junction, carefully because the pavement is narrow (Visit Argegno).
Practical information
- Service (ATM, hours valid from 14 September 2026): runs every 15 minutes, with simultaneous departures from Argegno and Pigra, Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 9am to 7pm; each run carries 12 people. ATM’s web page says the weekend timetable applies “until 30 September”; the PDF timetable gives no end. The Comune of Pigra gives different hours (9-5 on weekdays) and a different return fare, probably out of date.
- Fares (ATM PDF consulted on 6 October 2026, undated and with the file created in June 2025: public transport fares in the basin were adjusted from 1 September 2026, and for this cable car we did not find a later list): single 4.10 euros, return 8.20; ages 4 to 12 2.50 and 5.00; free up to age 4. Bicycles, animals and prams cost 3.30 euros. Tickets are bought at the two stations and you can pay by card; some integrated Lombardy tickets are also valid.
- Accessibility: the cable car is accessible to wheelchair users, and the Comune of Pigra provides a free shuttle service. To book, call the Red Cross of Centro Valle, 031 831555, 24 hours before if travelling on a Friday or Saturday and 48 hours before if travelling on a Sunday.
- Station phone numbers (Visit Argegno): Argegno +39 031 82 13 44, Pigra +39 031 81 08 44.
Sources
- ATM, Funivia Argegno-Pigra (and the timetable and fare PDFs)
- Comune di Pigra, Funivia Argegno-Pigra and Visit Argegno, Funivia Argegno-Pigra
- VareseNews, Torna in servizio la funivia Argegno-Pigra (6 August 2024)
- Wikipedia, Funivia Argegno-Pigra entry.