Arno - Stories of Reconciliation Between Florence and Its River

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Florence Flood of 4 November 1966, Tuscan artist Roberto Ghezzi presents “Arno – Stories of Reconciliation Between Florence and Its River,” an exhibition that brings art, nature and scientific research into dialogue, inviting visitors to rediscover the deep connection between the city and its river.

A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Roberto Ghezzi is renowned for his Naturografie (Nature Prints), artworks created by immersing natural-fibre canvases in aquatic environments and allowing the movement of water, sediments and natural elements to leave ever-changing marks and patterns on their surfaces. During the summer of 2026, Ghezzi immersed his canvases in the Arno River at ASD Canottieri Comunali Firenze, creating works that tell the story of the river through the traces left by nature.

Thanks to a collaboration with CNR-GEO and the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Florence, the project also explores the presence of microplastics and other elements in the river environment, adding a scientific perspective to the artistic investigation.

The exhibition, with its main venue at MAD Murate Art District and included in the official programme of anniversary commemorations, offers an opportunity to see the Arno from a new perspective and reflect on the relationship between Florence, its river and the natural environment.