Behind every legend there’s a hero and a heroic deed.

A contemporary legend

In 1842, on Lake Iseo, young shipwright Pietro Riva repaired many of the fishing boats destroyed by a sudden and devastating storm, earning the respect of the local population in the process. It made him decide to open his boatyard here in Sarnico and build his first boats, which had such class and personality that they were an immediate success. The Riva name quickly grew in fame, thanks in part to the entrepreneurial skills of Ernesto Riva, who took over the business from his father Pietro and installed the first internal combustion engines on the boats built by the yard.

It marked the start of the era of large boats used to transport goods and passengers on the lake. At the end of World War I, Serafino Riva put the brand in the spotlight and ensured its place in history by shifting the focus of production from transport to motorboats, which were still in their infancy at the time. In the 1920s and 1930s, Riva’s racing motorboats beat many records and won numerous national and international competitions both at sea and on lakes. But it was in the 1950s and 1960s that Carlo Riva turned boat design into an art form, transforming the yard’s history into legend and its boats into objects of desire. Like all brilliant minds, Carlo Riva was always first to see into the future, designing and building a series of strikingly designed wooden models that changed the boating experience forever and ushered in the era of modern yachting. A key role in creating this new aesthetic was played by designer and architect Giorgio Barilani, who started working for the yard in 1956. The boat that became a legend, the most beautiful and elegant of all time, was created in 1962 and named Aquarama. From that moment on, the Aquarama and the models that followed in its footsteps became ‘iconic’ and ‘glamorous’ before these adjectives were commonplace. In films and TV commercials, when someone goes for a boat ride it’s always on a Riva, and in TV series too, because the beauty of these boats, whether they’re classics or new builds, fills the screen and catches the viewer’s eye, bringing a sense of style to every scene.

Another date to remember is 1969, the year the yard designed and built its first fibreglass boats. The first two Riva models in composite material were the Bahia Mar 20’ day cruiser and the Sport Fisherman 25’ cabin cruiser. The St. Tropez and the Superamerica, the yard’s first important cabin cruiser, were two of the models produced between the 1970s and 1990s. In parallel with the success of fibreglass boats, the yard continued to produce wooden runabouts until 1996, the year the last Aquarama Special was built (number 784). In September 1969 Carlo Riva sold the yard to US firm Whittaker but remained as chairman and general manager until his resignation in 1971. In 1989, Gino Gervasoni – who married Carlo Riva’s sister – left the boatyard after a career lasting 41 years. This marked the end of the Riva family’s involvement in the company. In 1991, Riva presented the 58’ Bahamas at the Genoa Boat Show. She was the first boat designed by Mauro Micheli, the young designer who would go on to play a key role in the success of Riva’s new models.

Riva today

In May 2000, Riva was acquired by Ferretti Group, which has led the shipyard to where it is today, at the pinnacle of the international yachting panorama and recognised as an emblem of Italian boatbuilding. The unrivalled beauty and innovation of the brand’s products are the result of expertise provided by the Group’s Engineering Department and designer Mauro Micheli, the co-founder with Sergio Beretta of Officina Italiana Design, the firm that designs Riva’s entire fleet.

The first Aquariva was launched soon after the acquisition, a 33-footer encapsulating all the DNA of the brand’s future production: exclusiveness, style and cutting-edge technology concentrated in a revolutionary boat in terms of its engineering, reliability and performance. In 2012, the Chinese industrial group Shandong Heavy Industry Group - Weichai Group, a leading international manufacturer of engines, commercial vehicles and construction machinery, became Ferretti Group’s main shareholder. The solidity and strategic vision of this industrial giant have enabled Riva to take quality to a new level, securing resources and projects in the long term. These broad horizons led to the creation of the Riva Superyachts Division, which has a mission to build the steel superyachts with displacement hulls that Carlo Riva dreamt of, inspiring the famous ‘Caravelle’ and 'Atlantic’ series in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the six 20-metre-plus motor yachts in the ‘Marco Polo’ series and the two 90 and 100-foot ‘Vespuccis’ in the period from 1970 to 1978. The state-of-the-art ‘Riva Superyachts Division’ in Ancona is where the Riva 50Metri was built and the brand new 54Metri and 70Metri are under construction. Production milestones in Riva’s recent history include the Riva Anniversario, built in 2022 to mark the shipyard’s 180th anniversary, and the Riva El-Iseo, the brand’s first full-electric powerboat that launched the new E-Luxury segment under the banner of sustainability.

Riva: from 8 to 90 metres of seduction

Riva is the only boat brand to move out of the world of shipyards and the water, becoming an iconic case study in design schools, a cultural and cult phenomenon, and the star of blockbuster and arthouse films throughout the history of cinema.

The Riva logo, the colour aquamarine and the brand’s other signature features are proudly displayed by fans who buy the many wonderful products showcased in the Riva Brand Experience, the high-end collection that ranges from home accessories to super-chic apparel.

The Riva lifestyle is appealing on dry land too, as is demonstrated by the recent inauguration of an exclusive residential development in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, called Riva Residenze.

This global acclaim is driven by the excellence of boats that are, and always have been, masterpieces with unmistakable signature details, the result of more than a century of experience and the glorious tradition of Italian craftsmanship, combined with advanced technology. There’s no need for speeches or explanations, just say: ‘I have a Riva’, 'It’s a Riva’.

The details that make the difference

Riva is a legend and, in keeping with tradition, the wooden parts are still varnished meticulously by hand in 24 steps, using the method developed by Carlo Riva himself, to make the wood as glossy as possible and resistant to fresh and sea water. And the screws are still all positioned in the same direction, with the head painted to match the hull.

From the 8-metre Riva El-Iseo to the Riva 70Metri, this brand with over 180 years of history is increasingly emblematic of a modern, sophisticated elegance that is beautifully ‘Made in Italy’ and loved all over the world.