Watch: Riva celebrates 180 years with unveiling of Anniversario model

Riva shipyard, a Ferretti Group brand known for its classic wooden cruisers, has celebrated 180 years of history with the unveiling of a new model in Venice at the world premiere of its short film, Riva the Persuaders!

Only 18 hulls of the limited-edition Riva Anniversario dayboat tender will be produced, designed in the brand’s retro style to simultaneously celebrate 60 years since the iconic Aquarama model first hit the water.

A floating display of the Anniversario model was moored along the Grand Canal of Venice, in front of the Gritti Palace hotel’s Riva Lounge, to kick off the anniversary festivities. Luxury publisher Assouline also unveiled a fine art book designed for the occasion.

The Anniversario debut was followed by a gala evening with a viewing of the world premiere of Riva the Persuaders! at the Gran Teatro La Fenice in Venice. Filmed along the coastlines of Italy, Monaco and the French Riviera by Armando Testa Studios, the new short film stars Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino, British footballer David Beckham and F1 Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc racing on board a Riva 56’ Rivale, a Riva 68’ Diable and a Rivamare superyacht by parent group Ferretti. The stars of the film attended the premiere together with Riva owners and exclusive guests.

Riva was first founded in 1842, when Pietro Riva was commissioned to rebuild a fleet of fishing boats in the town of Sarnico following a devastating storm. By the 1950s and 60s, when descendant Carlo Riva began designing models like the famous Aquarama runabout, the brand become synonymous with golden age glamour – with models owned by the likes of Brigitte Bardot, Sean Connery, Prince Rainier of Monaco, King Hussein of Jordan, Sophia Loren, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

The brand was acquired by the Ferretti Group in 2000, launching its superyacht division in 2014. Today, Riva has two 49 metre superyacht flagships: Fifty and Race.