Traghetto di Leonardo, Cable ferry in Villa d'Adda, Italy.
Traghetto di Leonardo is a cable ferry connecting Imbersago and Villa d'Adda across the Adda River through an ingenious cable system. The boat accommodates up to one hundred passengers and five vehicles at once, moving entirely through the force of the river's natural current.
The ferry was established in the 17th century and its design traces back to Leonardo da Vinci's documented sketches. It remains the sole working example of five ferry designs he created, preserving a Renaissance-era mechanical solution that has endured for centuries.
The historic tariff sign at the embarkation point displays the ferry rates established by the Milanese Senate in 1604 for transporting people, goods, and livestock.
Simply board the boat and it will be pulled smoothly across the river by the current, then exit on the far bank within minutes. No special preparation is needed beyond normal patience during the crossing, and the entire journey feels calm and straightforward.
The boat moves without an engine or oars, powered only by a central shaft and roller mechanism that holds the cable taut against the flowing water. This arrangement has worked dependably for centuries, proving how clever the original design truly was.
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