LAKE GARDA

History of Navigation on Lake Garda

Words: ing.Massimo Gozzi

In 1824 a group of Milanese bankers set up the "Società Milanese per la Navigazione a Vapore nei Laghi del Regno Lombardo Veneto". This new company was set up to meet the transport requirements linked to burgeoning industrial development. The Austrian Emperor granted it the exclusive privilege of running the navigation service for 15 years. At Desenzano on 7th July 1827 the company launched the newly built wooden steamship driven by two steam engines. The vessel was named “Arciduca Ranieri” in homage to the Archduke Ferdinand Ranieri of Hapsburg who had recently been born in Milan.
Interestingly, this steamer had temporary competition in the form of an unusual vessel that was not steam-powered by animal-powered. It was named the "Amico a prora", also known as the “Manubrio”. Eight horses worked together on the deck, causing the paddle wheels to turn. This avoided the constant fear of fire, which could potentially cause the furnace to explode and start a blaze on board.
The success of the navigation service inspired the foundation of the "Società Benacense per l'esercizio della navigazione a Vapore sul Lago di Garda”, at Riva on 18th December 1842. This company had the Escher-Wyss yard in Zurich build a boat that was named Benaco, with a 42 steam-horsepower engine. The whole lake could now be crossed in 2 hours 45 minutes. Once the government concession expired, this company would take over the service on an exclusive basis.
The second half of the 19th century was marred by the wars for Italian Independence. These particularly affected the lake area as it was close to the border. After the conflicts had finished the Austrian border sliced through the upper part of the lake. Starting in 1867, the Italian Government assigned the management of navigation services to the Strade Ferrate dell'Alta Italia company. This company purchased the vessels from the previous company, as well as some ex-military vessels, and also had the steamer “Elvezia” transferred from Lake Maggiore. Then in 1885 responsibility for navigation was transferred from the Italian State to the Società delle Ferrovie Meridionali. Faced with having to update the fleet, which by now was in a rather shabby condition, this new company had Escher-Wyss build three new boats, that began service in 1888. These included the “Agostino Depretis”: an elegant, sturdy and swift “salon” boat that could hold 500 passengers.
In 1893, the Società delle Ferrovie Meridionali handed operations over to the company run by the Milanese entrepreneur Innocente Mangili. This company had a contract lasting twenty-five years. The completely private-run company commissioned the “Nicola Odero” yard in Sestri Ponente to built two modern, elegant steamships that could hold 300 passengers: the “Angelo Emo" and the “Lazzaro Mocenigo”, with a 250 steam-horsepower engine. In 1896 the company was renamed "Società Anonima per azioni Impresa di Navigazione sul Lago di Garda".