Monte Ceneri
Monte Ceneri is a mountain pass in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It connects the Magadino Plain and the Vedeggio Valley across the Lugano Prealps at an elevation of 554 metres (1,818 ft) above sea level. It provides the most direct route between the cities of Bellinzona and Lugano.[1] Despite its name (monte is the Italian word for "mountain"), Monte Ceneri is the lowest point on the crest between Monte Tamaro and the Camoghè.[2]
| Monte Ceneri | |
|---|---|
 Monte Ceneri looking north | |
| Elevation | 554 m (1,818 ft)[1] |
| Traversed by | Road, rail |
| Location | Ticino, Switzerland |
| Range | Lugano Prealps |
| Coordinates | 46°8′21″N 8°54′24″E |
  Location in Switzerland | |
Two tunnels have been dug under Monte Ceneri, the Monte Ceneri Road Tunnel for the A2 motorway and the Monte Ceneri Rail Tunnel for the Gotthard railway. A new rail tunnel, the Ceneri Base Tunnel, was opened in 2020,[3] and connects Camorino near Bellinzona and Vezia near Lugano.[1][4]
The pass is situated in the recently created municipality of Monteceneri and the district of Lugano. The Monte Ceneri radio transmitter is located close to the pass.[1]
The larger part of Ticino, which lies to the north of Monte Ceneri and includes the valley of the Ticino river and the cities of Bellinzona and Locarno, is often referred to as the Sopraceneri (above the Ceneri). The smaller part to the south, which includes Lugano, Mendrisio and Chiasso, takes the name Sottoceneri (under the Ceneri).
References
- map.geo.admin.ch (Map). Swiss Confederation. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
- Ezio Dal Vesco, Il Monte Ceneri : schizzo del suo paesaggio
- Keystone-SDA/ts. "Ceneri Base Tunnel is officially open". SWI swissinfo.ch. Archived from the original on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
- "Ceneri Base Tunnel: Blast-driving the main tunnel from Sigirino begins". AlpTransit AG. 10 March 2009. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
