Florence completes Arno River flood protection project

Florence has completed a major hydraulic risk mitigation project to protect the city from the Arno River. The project, funded with approximately 15 million euros from PNRR resources, includes the installation of new flood barriers and protective structures along more than 4.5 kilometers of urban riverbanks.

Key installations include modular panels on Lungarno Acciaiuoli, designed to be deployed during emergencies. The system is engineered to safely manage water flows of up to 3,500 cubic meters per second under the arches of the Ponte Vecchio. Other works include new embankments, permanent containment structures, and innovative protection systems using Corten steel along Lungarno delle Grazie and Lungarno Diaz.

Tuscany Region President Eugenio Giani described the intervention as decisive, noting that the new barriers provide an additional meter of containment capacity. The project is part of a broader regional strategy that includes expansion basins in Pizziconi, Prulli, and Restone to manage river levels and prevent flooding.