Arno River infrastructure and flood protection in Florence

In late September 2026, Florence focused on the technical and structural management of the Arno River. An academic and professional study day, ‘Attraverso l’Arno’, was organized to analyze the historical and technical aspects of four 20th-century bridges: San Niccolò, Vespucci, Giovanni da Verrazzano, and Ponte all’Indiano. The event aimed to facilitate dialogue regarding the safety, conservation, and functionality of these structures.

Following these discussions, the city announced the completion of a major hydraulic risk mitigation project funded by approximately 15 million euros from PNRR resources. This infrastructure project involved installing flood barriers and protective structures along 4.5 kilometers of urban riverbanks. Notable features include modular panels on Lungarno Acciaiuoli capable of managing water flows of up to 3,500 cubic meters per second, as well as Corten steel protection systems along Lungarno delle Grazie and Lungarno Diaz. Tuscany Region President Eugenio Giani noted that these interventions provide an additional meter of containment capacity as part of a broader regional strategy to manage river levels.