On May 15, 2023, from the Museum of Larian Boats:
“Enrico and Alessandro Mostes used to build a variety of boats, including Larian gondolas, racing joles, and even about fifteen dinghies and two ‘beccaccini’ (a type of boat). Among their many creations was the first ferry on Lake Como for transporting cars and people, serving the route between Bellagio, Cadenabbia, and Varenna.
It was named the ‘auto-chiatta Mussolini,’ was made of wood, measuring 15 meters by 4, and weighed 15 tonnes. It was powered by a 45 hp Isotta Fraschini engine, giving it a speed of 15 km/h. The likely design was attributed to engineer Alessandro Volpi, and the ferry was launched in Lezzeno on May 15, 1925.
In its first year of operation, it even transported the car of Bishop Monsignor Alfonso Archi, who wanted to personally transfer the car from the ferry to the shore. However, he miscalculated the maneuver’s timing and ended up in the lake. Upon learning of this incident, Mussolini insisted that his name be dissociated from such a sensational event.
The ‘auto-chiatta’ was renamed ‘Bellagio,’ and Bishop Archi emerged from the incident with nothing more than a great scare.”
