It connects the Praça da Batalha, situated uphill to the north, with Cais dos Guindais, by the riverside to the south.

The original line of the Guindais Funicular was designed to overcome the steep incline between Porto's riverside area and the higher elevations, where the population was concentrated.

Established in July 1887, the Parceria dos Elevadores do Porto commissioned engineer Raul Mesnier to develop the project.

These tests included inspections of the machinery, materials, and rolling stock, as well as trials to verify the strength of the traction cables, the power of the machines, and the effectiveness of the braking systems.

[2] However, on 5 June 1893, a serious accident occurred resulting in a loose car crashing into the lower platform at the Dom Luís I Bridge.

[5][6] The funicular is situated along the wall of Freiras, running down a steep cliff between the quay at Guindais and Rua da Batalha (terminating at building of the Civil Governor).

[5][7][1] The journey takes approximately 3 minutes and after emerging from the upper tunnel, passengers are able to view from panoramic cabins the landscape of the Dom Luís I Bridge and the Douro River margins.

A curved transition connected these gradients, utilizing a secondary parallel line to balance the weight of vehicles on the steep section, thereby reducing the effort required by the machinery (see box).

The design included dual-cylinder high-pressure machines, capable of lifting fully loaded vehicles even without the assistance of a counterweight.

The steam boilers were oil-fired TenBrink type, ensuring efficient operation with minimal smoke output.