An Artistic Legacy: The Riva family & Monaco Boat Service Riva, the world’s most beautiful boats have been making sailing style and design an art form since 1842. Craftmanship, unmatchable quality, innovation and artistry have always been the Riva hallmarks. Shipbuilding has been allied to the Riva family name across an incredible three centuries. The most famous from this long line of family shipbuilders is indisputably Carlo Riva. Who right up until his death in 2017 was the lifeblood of the Riva family business. Carlo was the design genius behind the ‘Aquarama’. This most iconic of Riva models became emblematic of the ‘la dolce vita’ in the 1950s. Often associated with great artists from the worlds of music and film, Riva owners have included Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot and Sean Connery. Carlo Riva famously gifted HSH Princess Grace of Monaco an Aquarama as a wedding present. Most fitting for a boat Carlo described as being ‘designed with love’. The link between Riva and Monaco was one forged by Carlo Riva. Since 1959 Monaco Boat Service has played a vital role in the daily life and business of Monaco. The exclusive Riva dealer for France and the Principality, Monaco Boat Service with its landing stages and hidden treasure, The Riva tunnel – is home to some of the world’s most beautiful and rare vessels. A center of excellence for boat engineering, Monaco Boat Service also offers daily and weekly chartering services. Two further offices are now found in Cannes, and Saint Tropez. Cannes Boat Service located at Port Pierre Canto, just a few steps from the Palais du Festival, works closely with Cannes Film Festival. Each year in May, Riva welcomes aboard artists and cultural icons such as Vincent Cassel, Justin Timberlake and Uma Thurman during the world’s most famous film festival.
Today the Riva family proudly continues this tradition of artistic patronage. Indeed for Ms. Lia Riva, Carlo’s daughter, art is not just a personal passion but also a continuation of her father Carlo’s great legacy. Born in the small Italian town of Sarnico, where the iconic Riva shipyard was born more than 170 years ago, Lia Riva grew up amidst the hustle and bustle of boat construction. She spent her childhood living just above the Riva shipyard. Growing up in Italy, she studied at the university of Verona. She had 3 girls, Valentina, Chiara and Arianna and loves being a grandmother of four. Lia has been living in Monaco for 30 years where she is currently at the helm of Monaco Boat Service. Following her father’s footsteps, Lia’s contribution to the Riva family business carries on his name as a philanthropist and entrepreneur. She successfully allies charities to the Riva name, such as the Robert Kennedy Human Rights Foundation. For many years Ms. Riva and Monaco Boat Service have championed a variety of artistic projects in Monaco and across the French Riviera including the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, Artmonte-‐carlo and Festival Printemps des Arts; annual highlights in Monaco’s cultural calendar. 2018 is a special year for it welcomes The Riva Trophy; the jewel in the crown of the Riviera’s summer sporting and social calendar. Ms. Lia Riva proudly hosts the event, which takes place every two years. The Riva Trophy has become the most prestigious rendez-‐vous in the South of France for Riva owners from right across the globe. The historic and glamourous route from Monaco to St Tropez is synonymous with La Dolce Vita. The two days event includes: yacht races, sporting contests, fabulous entertainment, gastronomic delights, luxury prizes and many surprises along the way. The Riva Trophy truly is the best of the Riviera for those lucky enough to participate. By Rebecca McVeigh www.the-‐style-‐lab.com
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MONACO BOAT SERVICE - 8, Quai Antoine Ier - Monaco - Tel. +377 93 10 53 33 CANNES BOAT SERVICE - Bd. de la Croisette, Port P. Canto - Cannes - tel. +33 (0) 493 450 451 SAINTTROPEZ BOAT SERVICE - Quai Claude Meiffret - Saint-Tropez - tel. +33 (0) 494 437 505 www.riva-mbs.com - www.cannesboatservice.com
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