The first train journeys by steam locomotive to ascend the mountain were made in 1890. During the war years, its days as a to ... urist attraction seemed numbered, and the owner wanted to dismantle the railway and sell the tracks for iron. However, the Migros founder Gottlieb Duttweiler was convinced that access to the extraordinary panorama was worth preserving. Without hesitation, he bought the railway in 1941. 75 years on, it is still supported by the Migros Cultural Percentage initiative. As of 2017 the company manages also the Fiore di pietra, the incredible building at the peak of the mountain at 1704m, designed by the famous architect Mario Botta. The company manages the railway, a camping in Melano, two restaurants, a meeting room and a small exhibition hall. read more