AGREEMENT REACHED TO REOPEN PRATI DI TIVO CABLE CAR AHEAD OF PEAK SUMMER SEASON

In a major breakthrough for mountain tourism in the Abruzzo region, an official agreement has been finalized to restore and reopen the Prati di Tivo cable car. The chairlift is widely regarded as a vital piece of strategic infrastructure for the Teramo mountains, serving as a primary alpine gateway for both inland hikers and coastal holidaymakers visiting from nearby Giulianova and Val Vibrata.

The Province of Teramo has successfully mapped out an expedited administrative framework with the explicit goal of restarting the facility by the end of July.

The breakthrough plan was presented by the President of the Province, Camillo D'Angelo, alongside Councilor Gabriella Recchiuti and the liquidators of Gran Sasso Teramano Spa. At the center of the newly brokered deal is specialized operator Marco Finori Srl, the company tapped to carry out the critical engineering adjustments required to bring the cableway back into strict compliance with national regulations.

€890,000 Infrastructure Overhaul Funded by the Province

To bring the facility back online safely, the Province of Teramo—which owns the plant—is entirely funding an €890,000 intervention package under its structural agreement with Gran Sasso Teramano.

The engineering scope is highly rigorous, encompassing a mandatory periodic five-yearly inspection alongside comprehensive extraordinary maintenance. All technical adjustments have been explicitly calibrated to the precise manufacturing specifications of ropeway developer Doppelmayer Srl and the safety mandates of Ansfisa, Italy's national agency for infrastructure and fixed installation safety. Local officials view this rigorous technical step as a non-negotiable catalyst to breathe life back into the regional tourism economy.

Expedited Bidding and Legal Gridlock Resolved

Recognizing that the clock was ticking on the summer season, authorities launched a fast-track negotiated procedure on June 5th to source sector specialists. Marco Finori Srl emerged as the sole operator to submit a formal proposal.

However, greenlighting the project required resolving a tangled web of outstanding legal disputes. As a strict precondition for the contract award, Gran Sasso Teramano mandated a resolution to all ongoing litigation. In a massive step forward, Marco Finori Srl agreed to fully waive both its active appeal proceedings and a pending injunction. This legal truce effectively eliminates the bureaucratic roadblocks that threatened to paralyze the liquidated company's operations and freeze the construction site.

Interim Operations Structured Through November 2026

The operational execution of the project is governed by two standalone contracts:

• The Engineering Mandate: Focusing strictly on the overhaul execution, extraordinary maintenance items, and five-yearly safety inspection parameters, which carry a hard completion deadline of November 15th.

• The Interim Management Lease: Assigning Marco Finori Srl the role of primary facility operator until November 15, 2026, for a designated fee of €20,000.

This transitional management window is highly intentional. Once the physical system is completely overhauled and fully operational, Gran Sasso Teramano plans to launch a transparent public tender to secure a permanent long-term manager. Until then, the temporary lease ensures immediate service continuity while satisfying all safety certifications, ordinary upkeep, and civic use fees.

A Critical Lifeline for Local Business and Regional Tourism

The revival of the Prati di Tivo lift is being celebrated by local businesses, tour operators, and outdoor enthusiasts across the province. The infrastructure provides essential high-altitude access for active families and alpine hikers, directly feeding tourism revenue from the coast back up into the peaks.

Engineers plan to execute the maintenance schedule with a sensitive approach, aiming to minimize any operational disruptions to the mountain during the height of the summer season. Any supplemental work outside the initial scope will require explicit approval from Gran Sasso Teramano.

With the legal barriers dismantled and funding secure, all eyes are on the end-of-July target, a timeline that would successfully rescue the back half of the summer season and establish a predictable framework for the upcoming winter ski schedule.