The Santa Justa Lift (Portuguese: ELEVADOR DE SANTA JUSTA) also called Carmo Lift (Elevador do Carmo), is a lift in Lisbon, Portugal, situated at the end of Rua de Santa Justa. It connects the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Largo do Carmo (Carmo Square.)
The Santa Justa Lift was designed by Raul Mesnier de Ponsard, an engineer born in Porto to French parents. Raul Ponsard was an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel and returned to Lisbon with grand design ideas. He petitioned the royal house who provided all of the funding. Construction began in 1900 and was finished in 1902; originally powered by steam, it was converted to electrical operation in 1907. In 2002 the elevator with the three remaining cable railways of Lavra, Glória and Bica were classified as National Monuments.
I'm an engineer lover of classical structures of public utility beyond the times and this one is one of my favorites