Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the 1966 Arno River Flood
About
On November 4, 1966, the Arno River flooded Florence, devastating neighborhoods and threatening some of the world's most treasured cultural heritage. Books, paintings, sculptures, historic buildings, and other irreplaceable works were damaged by floodwaters and mud.
The disaster brought together conservators, volunteers, scholars, and specialists from around the world in an extraordinary international effort to recover and preserve Florence's cultural heritage.
The response to the Arno flood also demonstrated that disasters are rarely confined to a single type of emergency. Beyond immediate threats to people and infrastructure, disasters can profoundly affect art, history, culture, communities, and collective memory
A Week of Events
The entire week of November 2–7, 2026 will feature additional events commemorating the 1966 Arno River flood and the historic international response to the disaster. Be sure to check back for any updates to the schedule.