Working faces and stories

From boats to offices by way of boatyards, these are the people whose work allow Navigazione Laghi’s services to run optimally

It’s much more than just a job. Those who work every day to ensure Navigazione Laghi’s services work so well are frequently inspired by a great love of what they do, either from childhood or more recently. These are people whose work is a mission for them and who do everything they can to make the service as efficient and people-centred as possible.

Paolo Marchetti

Lake of Garda
Start of employment: 1993
Head carpenter

‘My dad Luciano worked at Navigazione for 15 years. He always told me all about the shipyard and one day he suggested I went along. I was working at the highway toll booths and I applied for a seasonal job. I started off at the ticket office, before there were computers and everything had to be done by hand. Then I worked two different jobs, in the winter in the carpentry workshop, in summer travelling around on the boats. I did all the rounds. I remember rebuilding the Bardolino quay in a week with colleagues: the café always gave us free coffee. I’d like to do more work like that for the community but the boats have to be got out first. I only wish we could talk more about people and less about jobs. We’re all in it together.’

Valentina Brizio

Lake Maggiore
Start of employment: 2018
Machinist

At high school I looked out through the classroom window at the passing boats and thought “It would be great to work there.” When I left school, if people asked me what I wanted to do next, I used to say “work in lake transport”. Everyone was surprised: tourism was my world, not boats! Now I’m a crew member, and work as a machinist on Lake Maggiore, which feels like home to me in every season. The colours of the lake before and after a storm move me every time. I have to thank my mother and my friend Stefania who are always behind me and believed in me right from the start.’

Miriana Cozzupoli

Milan General Headquarters
Start of employment: 2024
Job: Technician at the Safety Management System Complex Unit

Over time I’ve realised how much more than a profession this job is: it holds territories, people and stories together. It’s a responsibility, of course, but also a privilege. I remember one spring afternoon on Lake Maggiore, the inverna wind fresh against my face, boats full of tourists. I felt at home, although I’d only just moved to Lombardy. Lakes don’t divide us, they bring us together. Contributing to bringing them alive and making them accessible all year is my way of belonging. I hope everyone finds something which makes them feel part of something bigger, at work or in life.’

Eleonora Limonta

Como Lake
State of employment: 2021
Ticket agent