The history of navigation on lake como lands at Mercanteinfiera

Lake Como is a motorboat hub of absolute excellence, strong with a thousand-year tradition that has bequeathed a unique and precious heritage. The history of Lake Como's production of boats for fishing, recreation, competition, transport of goods or people was the protagonist of the exhibition “Onda su onda: alle radici della navigazione” (Wave upon wave: at the roots of navigation), held March 4-12 in Parma during the XXVII edition of Mercanteinfiera, a major international event dedicated to antiques, historical design, modern antiques and vintage collecting that hosted more than a thousand exhibitors. Produced with the Museo Barca Lariana and curated by Michele Seghetti, the exhibition, one of this edition's collateral events, offered some real gems. A number of historical boats linked to love stories, tales of intrepid pilots and intriguing Carbonari mysteries as well as rare period pieces were brought to the show. Visitors to the Parma fair were able to admire up close, among others, the boat of Silvio Pellico, the writer, poet and patriot who loved to contemplate the lake from the gardens of Villa Balbianello in Lenno while discussing of Italy and revolution. Among the curiosities were the decorated bow iron and rudder of the Villa Carlotta Gondola, used by Princess Carlotta and her husband, Duke George II of Saxony Meiningen. A section was devoted to a series of prestigious engines, such as the very powerful Chrysler Riva inboard, the historical Soriano outboard and Vigentini Ciuicì, a futuristic electric motor from the 1960s. Also enriching the exhibition are nautical-related objects such as antique fenders, life jackets, fire extinguishers, sailors' means and oars from the glorious rowing clubs that won gold and silver medals in London 1948 and Melbourne 1956. A journey, the one narrated by " Onda su Onda," has its roots in the distant past. "It all began in Roman times. In 59 B.C.," Seghetti explains, "Julius Caesar soon realized that the lake route allowed a rapid ascent to the northern lands, and Lake Como became a veritable water highway to the Germanic moors. Julius Caesar decided to re-found the Gallic Comum and establish a Greek colony there, thanks to which shipbuilding development was initiated."

The flourishing of trade and the final passage of Como under the Viscontis had a positive influence on the economic life of Lake Como. The deep link between the people of the Lake Como and the boat was also sealed by centuries of naval wars, with the Lake at the center of constant contention. In the 1700s peace came. "With Austrian rule," the curator continues, "trade resumed with great momentum. In 1777 the problem of the Paderno rapids was solved; with the new naviglio, goods reached Milan directly via the Adda and Martesana. Barges and burchielli, up to twenty meters long, were used." The 18th century was the century of neoclassical mansions. Thus arose the need for elegant pleasure boats. Some Venetian shipbuilders moved to Lake Como, and among them was Ferdinando Taroni, whose family was probably originally from Carate Lario and emigrated to Venice around 1400. "Taroni opened his shipyard in Carate Lario in 1790. Taroni shipyards soon became the best shipbuilders in Italy and a forge for young and talented shipwrights. The entire fleet of gondolas sailing on Lake Como came out of their shipyard," Seghetti recalls. The 19th century saw the birth of civil navigation, and the Piroscafo Lake Como was to be the first steamboat to ply the waters of the Lake Como. It was the century that saw the arrival of the first English businessmen who imported the first Thames-A-Rater, very fast sailing ships, to the lake. The skilled shipwrights of the lake also absorbed English techniques and, above all, the heavy use of precious mahogany. "And at the height of the Romantic ferment, a handful of intrepid Lombard noblemen and industrialists," the editor continues, "organized the first sailing regatta known in Italy. Shipbuilding developed, among others, with the Abbate family, and with Pietro Riva, who, after learning the trade from his uncle Gaetano, a pupil of the Taroni family, would leave for Sarnico to start the world's most prestigious nautical brand. "Even today, the Folli and Lillia from Como are the best Star Class boat builders in the world. Perhaps it is not by chance, and so we want to imagine, that the Maranello of water was born right here," Seghetti concludes. For info: www.museobarcalariana.it