When it comes to glamour and high style on the seas, there’s nothing more captivating than the Aquarama. Dreamed up by the legendary Carlo Riva, the run-about wooden speed has become an icon of Italian design and the Riva Aquarama book, edited by Assouline, celebrates its 60th Anniversary. Beloved for its clean lines, mahogany, glistening chrome details and signature robin’s egg-blue and cream upholstery, the Aquarama reflected la dolce vita optimism of early-‘60s Italy; it’s impossible to picture the glittering Côte d’Azur and coasts of Europe without visions of endless summers spent lounging on the back of the boat in the warm summer sun, and the gentle roar of the engine as the Aquarama cuts through the surf.

The Riva icon enjoyed a mythical status and was beloved by movie stars, heads of state and royalty—everyone from Brigitte Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor, Gunter Sachs and the royal family of Monaco, among countless other luminaries, have been enchanted by the Aquarama’s spell. Of the about 760 completed Aquaramas made in the Sarnico shipyard, Riva experts estimate around 650 are still in existence, which only adds to the boat’s legendary status. But more than just a trophy, the Aquarama is fiercely beloved by its owners and enthusiasts alike—it’s not just a boat, but the realization of a dream. In this exceptional tribute to the Aquarama, author Michael Verdon tells the story of the legendary boat and brings to life its dolce vita charm. The book is also offered in a special edition, presented in a luxury mahogany box that is crafted to express the beauty of the Aquarama’s magnificent hull. This special edition offers owners, collectors and enthusiasts alike a piece of the Riva dream.

Complimentary white gloves and a signature canvas tote bag are included with each purchase from Assouline's Ultimate Collection

Michael Verdon is the marine/aviation editor at Robb Report magazine. He has been a staff editor for multiple boating magazines and has written about boats for dozens of publications around the world. He has won multiple awards, but his most prized is the Pionieri della Nautica from the Italian marine trade association UCINA, which recognizes contributions to the country’s boating industry from foreign journalists.

Born in Scotland, Oliver Pilcher studied sculpture at the Edinburgh College of Art before embarking on a photographic career that has taken him all around the world and given him the opportunity to shoot for some of the world’s finest brands. Oliver has been a contributing photographer at Condé Nast Traveler for over ten years. He currently divides his time between New York and Costa Rica with his wife, Abigail and their four children.

Assouline’s Ultimate Collection is an homage to the art of luxury bookmaking. Hand-bound using traditional techniques, with color plates hand-tipped on art-quality paper, each page of this limited-edition series bears the unique imprint of the artisan. Treating a range of topics from jewelry and fashion, fine art and the ‘Impossible Collections,’ the Ultimate Collection curates culture from around the world and across the ages. Nestled in linen clamshell presentation cases, these books attract collectors, lovers of the printed page, and those who devour the culture of our time. Signaling a new level of sophistication for true connoisseurs, these unique books are works of art in their own right.

Aquarama: la historia del barco más bonito del mundo; By: Alejandro Avilleira, Esquire Online (Spain), October 2022

Robb Recommends: Assouline’s New ‘Riva Aquarama’ Chronicles the History of the World’s Most Iconic Runabout; By: J. George Goran, Robb Report Online (USA), October 2022

Da Brigitte Bardot a Sophia Loren, Tutti Han Ceduto al Fascino dello Yatch Riva, Harper’s Bazaar Online (Italy), September 2022

Status & Style on the Seas; By: Brooke Kelly Murray, Quest Online (US), August 2022

Riva Aquarama Celebrated in Lavish Photo Book; By: Beau Hayhoe, Maxim (US), July 2022

Boat of the Week: Why the Classic Riva Aquarama Is Still the Most Beautiful Runabout Ever Made; By: Michael Verdon, Robb Report (US), July 2022

Assouline’s Riva Aquarama Takes a Look At One of the Most Beautiful Boats in the World, Acquire Online (US), July 2022