On the River Adda in Lombardy, a ferry that has linked the two banks for more than 500 years is once again carrying daily commuters. Known as the “Leonardo ferry,” this Renaissance-era craft, designed by Leonardo da Vinci in 1513, operates without an engine, relying entirely on the river’s current for propulsion.
The ferry connects Imbersago, in the province of Lecco, with Villa d'Adda on the Bergamo side. It is the last working example of its kind, a testament to the ingenuity of its era. For centuries, it transported people and goods between the Duchy of Milan and the Republic of Venice, until the late 18th century when the Adda marked the border between the two states.
Despite its name, Leonardo did not invent this type of craft; similar ferries were already widespread in the 15th century. However, the boat so captivated the polymath that he immortalised it in a drawing titled “Landscape of the Adda with detail of a ferry,” now held in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. According to historian Erminio Bonanomi, Leonardo may have designed the port of Imbersago after studying how the ferry worked.
A Renaissance Solution to Modern Traffic
Commuters in Lombardy have rediscovered the ferry since early May, when the Brivio bridge—one of the few crossings between the two banks—was closed for works that will last until 2027. Traffic on the nearby San Michele bridge, just three kilometres away, has surged, with tailbacks stretching two kilometres and up to 8,000 vehicles per day at peak times.
Once operating only on weekends as a tourist curiosity, the ferry has now extended its service to weekdays. “Right now it is the quickest option, but above all the most pleasant, because it gives you three minutes of peace and quiet,” Gianpaolo Graffagnino told the Associated Press. Since the bridge closed, he has started cycling and using the ferry.
The service is run by a group of local volunteers, including three 20-year-old engineering and economics students, a pensioner, and the mayor of Imbersago, Fabio Vergani. “This is a means of transport that has existed for 500 years and has always linked the two banks of the Adda,” explained Massimo Zoia, one of the volunteers. “Today it has returned to its original function: bringing together two communities living on opposite sides of the river.”
A Model of Sustainable Transport
The vessel is a fully eco-friendly means of transport with no environmental impact, as it is powered by the current of the river, with no engine or fuel. Built of wood, the barge is attached to a steel cable (once a rope) stretched between the two banks. To set off, the operator pulls a rope that steers the vessel towards the middle of the river. The ferryman then manoeuvres the craft so that it is at an angle to the current, which pushes it towards the other bank. The force of the water presses against the side of the boat, which moves forward thanks to a principle of the resolution of forces that fascinated Leonardo. Only one operator is needed, and the crossing takes around five minutes.
Among those who crossed the Adda on this boat was Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, before he became Pope John XXIII. A native of the area, the pontiff used it regularly during his pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Woods in Imbersago.
The ferry’s revival highlights how historical infrastructure can offer practical solutions to modern challenges. As Europe grapples with sustainable transport and urban congestion, this 500-year-old craft provides a quiet, emission-free alternative. For more on sustainable travel, see our coverage of the Cyprus-Lebanon ferry service and Europe's record-breaking pedestrian suspension bridges.
