IMBERSAGO – In northern Italy, a unique ferry gracefully traverses the Adda River, providing commuters with a peaceful five-minute journey. This alternative route has become essential after a bridge closure led to traffic congestion, offering a brief escape from the daily rush.
Known as “Leonardo’s Ferry,” this historic vessel operates on a cable system and harnesses the river’s currents for propulsion. Its design, dating back five centuries, was immortalized in a drawing by the Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci, now part of the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle in London.
This ferry is the last of its kind on the Adda River, which flows from the Alps into the Po River, traversing the scenic Lombardy region.
Massimo Zoia, a dedicated volunteer ferryman, highlights the ferry’s historical significance: “This mode of transport has been here for 500 years, consistently linking the two banks of the Adda. Now, it has returned to its original purpose, uniting communities on either side of the river.”
Although the ferry bears Leonardo’s name, it remains uncertain whether he was the original designer. What is known is that he sketched the mechanism in 1513, amid his extensive studies of waterways, including Milan’s canal networks. Leonardo da Vinci, one of history’s greatest intellects, filled his notebooks with innovative designs, some of which were not realized until centuries later.
The ferry’s operation is a marvel of simplicity and ingenuity, utilizing only the power of nature, making it an entirely eco-friendly means of transportation.
“The river pushes us downstream. We have a cable that binds us, and by breaking down the forces, according to the parallelogram rule, which we study in high school, the force is broken down and one part becomes resistance and the other we use for lateral movement,” Zoia said.
“The rudder is used to adjust the inclination of the ferry so that it better absorbs the stream that hits us and makes us move,” he said.
The ferry is run by the town of Imbersago, and runs to the town of Villa d’Adda on the other side. It came close to disappearing in 2023, when its operator gave up the concession. Determined to save it, Imbersago Mayor Fabio Vergani obtained a ferryman’s license himself and, together with the local tourism association, assembled a team of volunteers.
Since 2024, they have primarily transported weekend visitors from one bank of the Adda to the other.
But they added commuter service this spring after a nearby bridge was closed for maintenance to help ease traffic congestion. It now runs from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., with a two hour lunch break at noon. Passengers pay 1.50 euros (about $1.75) if they are on foot, 2 euros ($2.30) with a bicycle, 2.50 euros ($2.88) with a motorbike and 3.50 (around $4) for a car.
Gianpaolo Graffagnino lives in Villa d’Adda and works on the other side of the river. He has started biking to work, using the ferry as a shortcut.
“Right now this is the fastest system, but above all the nicest because you get three minutes of peace,” he said.
Mauro Carnati drove his Maserati onto the ferry to bring his daughter to school on the other side, avoiding a long detour caused by the bridge closure.
“It’s true that we spend a little money, and it’s not possible every day, but the romance and added value of the Adda and the ferry are truly amazing. It makes for a better start to the day,” he said.
