A new service in Florence called Arnoboat gives tourists and residents the opportunity to travel along the Arno by boat, in the style of Parisian trips on the Seine. Having started on September 18, these boat trips will run every day from now until September 30, before restarting next year in May.
The project was launched thanks to the ideas of two Florentines: Daniela Ghirelli and Gianni Margheriti. The two partners have worked together to make this complex project a reality, and they have successfully navigated areas such as river legislation, feasibility studies, and hydraulic engineering. Daniela explained the origins of the idea in a statement: “This project was born from afar, when, as a student at the University of Paris, I experienced the great French tradition of river travel. I dreamed of bringing it to Florence, my beloved city, because I don’t want to live anywhere else but here. After so many years, this dream has become a reality.”
The cruises start from an eco-friendly mooring point made from wood and steel, and last one hour, taking passengers on a journey that runs under various bridges including the Ponte Vecchio and Ponte Santa Trinita. The boats themselves are electric and powered by solar panels. For Gianni Margheriti, this element is particularly exciting, as he commented that “One of the things that fascinates me most about this project is combining the modernity of an eco-friendly boat with the history, tradition and art of our beautiful Florence.”
Giacomo Cioni, president of CNA Firenze Metropolitana, also spoke of his support for the project. “It’s impossible not to support the initiative for its courage to do business in a difficult period like the present one, focusing on policies that will become increasingly fundamental, such as sustainability, zero emissions, and environmental protection, and for the offer of a high-quality tourist experience which differs from the standard ones that the city currently provides to tourists and Florentines”.
Trips run eight times a day, seven days a week until September 30, and then from May 1 to September 30, 2023.
Tickets cost 19 euro, with a reduced cost of 12 euro for children aged 6 to 12 years and residents over 65 residents in Florence. Children under six ride free.
The boat is accessible to people with disabilities.
For more information, see www.arnoboat.com
