San Martino Di Castrozza, New Valcigolera Cable Car Awaiting Connection With Passo Rolle

The 2024-25 ski season in the San Martino di Castrozza-Passo Rolle ski area will begin with a major innovation: the Valcigolera cable car. The facility will have 10-seat cabins and will replace an old two-seater chairlift, significantly improving capacity, speed and comfort for skiers heading towards the 2,383-meter-high Cima Tognola.

"The new Valcigolera cable car is the culmination of investments spread over several years that have completely renewed the San Martino di Castrozza ski area," explained Valeria Ghezzi, President of ANEF and owner of the Tognola facilities. In less than 10 years, 4 lifts have been replaced, 2 reservoirs for snowmaking have been built and significant investments have been made to improve the snowmaking system.

The renewal process is not yet complete, as preparatory work for the implementation of the San Martino di Castrozza - Passo Rolle connection is still underway at Passo Rolle. The contract was awarded in February 2024 and the final permits are now awaited for the start of construction.

"In the coming years, the project to connect the ski resorts of San Martino di Castrozza and Passo Rolle will finally be completed," commented Valeria Ghezzi. "A project that has been awaited for years and that will represent a further step forward for this tourist region, improving its attractiveness and optimising local mobility through a more valid alternative to the car."

Back to the Valcigolera cable car: the system is being built by Leitner , work began in the spring and, barring any setbacks, should be completed by December, in time for the start of the next ski season. The hourly capacity can reach a maximum of 1,500 people and the type of system allows comfortable use in both directions, from Malga Valcigolera to Cima Tognola and vice versa. In just 3.5 minutes the 465-meter difference in height between the two stations is overcome, compared to the 10 minutes required by the old system. A revolution in terms of speed and comfort, but also from an environmental point of view. The direct drive of the system promises better energy efficiency and less wear on components, and as for the visual impact, the new cable car will have only 6 supports, compared to the 10 of the chairlift to be replaced.