This is a list of rivers which are at least partially located in Italy. They are organized according to the body of water they drain into, with the exceptions of Sicily and Sardinia, which are listed separately. At the bottom, all of the rivers are also listed alphabetically.
Italian rivers are generally shorter than those of other European regions because Italy is partly a peninsula along which the Apennine chain rises, dividing the waters into two opposite sides. The longest river originating in Italy is the Drava, which flows for , while the river flowing the most kilometers in Italy is the long Po.
Rivers in Italy total about 1,200, and give rise, compared to other European countries, to a large number of marine mouths. This is due to the relative abundance of rain events in Italy, and to the presence of the Alpine chain rich in snowfields and glaciers in the northern part of the country, in the presence of the Apennines in the center-south and in the coastal extension of Italy.
Characteristics of Italian rivers
The widest and largest rivers belong to the Alpine region due to the arrangement and elevation of the relief, as well as the depth of the Po Valley. Along the peninsula, given the arrangement of the Apennine chain and the different slopes of the two sides, the rivers on the Adriatic and Ionian sides run through short transversal valleys and, except for the Reno, do not exceed in length, while ten are just over . On the Tyrrhenian side instead, they are on average longer because the Apennine spurs and the sub-Apennine belt are wider. The rivers that flow into the Tyrrhenian sea are longer also because for the first stretch, they follow longitudinal valleys (Apennine valleys) and then run transversally with respect to the axis of the chain, in the south-Apennine area. Given the location of the springs and the local rainfall regime, the rivers of Italy are divided into: Alpine rivers, of glacial origin, subject to flooding in spring and summer because when it is hot the glaciers melt. The lakes that frequently occupy the most depressed parts of the Alpine valleys serve to dampen the rush of the rivers and to clarify their murky waters. In fact, given the rapidity of the valleys from which the rivers descend, the speed of their waters is remarkable and their activity of erosion and transport of rocky debris is sensitive. Decanting is precisely the process by which this material is abandoned in the lakes of which these rivers are tributaries. Apennine rivers, subject to sudden spring and autumn floods due to the rains. The lean period is in summer accentuated in the Northern Apennines, almost absolute in the southern one, except for some waterways (Aterno-Pescara, Sele, Volturno, Liri-Garigliano, to be limited to those that flow directly into the sea, to which are added Velino, Nera, Aniene all in the , etc.) which are fed by large karst springs that spring on the edge of areas characterized by permeable fissured rocks. In fact, there are no snowfields and glaciers on the Apennines (the only glacier, albeit small, is that of the Calderone, on the northern side of Corno Grande, in the Gran Sasso d'Italia massif, in Abruzzo); rainwater does not always collect in river beds made up of impermeable ground, that is, such as to allow a fair average annual flow. The Sardinian and Sicilian rivers are torrential (full of water in winter and almost dry in summer), with the exception of Tirso, Flumendosa, Coghinas and Simeto.
List of rivers in Italy over + Rivers of Italy over in length Rank River Length Regions crossed Type 1 Po Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto Alpine 2 Adige Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Veneto Alpine 3 Tiber Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio Apennine 4 Adda Lombardy Alpine 5 Oglio Lombardy Alpine 6 Tanaro Piedmont, Liguria Alpine 7 Ticino Switzerland, Piedmont, Lombardy Alpine 8 Arno Tuscany Apennine 9 Piave Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto Alpine 10 Reno Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna Apennine 11 Sarca-Mincio Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Veneto, Lombardy Alpine 12 Volturno Molise, Campania Apennine 13 Brenta Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Veneto Alpine 14 Secchia Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy Apennine 15 Tagliamento Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto Alpine 16 Dora Baltea Aosta Valley, Piedmont Alpine 17 Ombrone Tuscany Apennine 18 Chiese Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Lombardy Alpine 19 Liri-Garigliano Abruzzo, Lazio, Campania Apennine 20 Bormida Liguria, Piedmont Alpine 21 Aterno-Pescara Abruzzo Apennine 22 Tirso Sardinia Sardinian
List of Italian rivers above + Rivers of Italy above of average flow at the mouth Rank River Flow at the mouth Regions crossed Type 1 Po Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto Alpine 2 Ticino Switzerland, Piedmont, Lombardy Alpine 3 Tiber Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio Apennine 4 Adige Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Veneto Alpine 5 Adda Lombardy Alpine 6 Isonzo Slovenia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia Alpine 7 Nera Marche, Umbria, Lazio Apennine 8 Oglio Lombardy Alpine 8 Piave Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia Alpine 10 Liri-Garigliano Abruzzo, Lazio Apennine 11 Tanaro Liguria, Piedmont Alpine 12 Arno Tuscany Apennine 13 Dora Baltea Aosta Valley, Piedmont Alpine 14 Reno Emilia-Romagna Apennine 15 Brenta Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Veneto Alpine 16 Livenza Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto Alpine 17 Volturno Molise, Campania Apennine 18 Isarco Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol Alpine 19 Sesia Piedmont Alpine 20 Tagliamento Friuli-Venezia Giulia Alpine 21 Toce Piedmont Alpine 22 Sele Campania Apennine 23 Mincio Veneto, Lombardy Alpine 24 Velino Lazio, Umbria Apennine 25 Rienza Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol Alpine 26 Aterno-Pescara Abruzzo Apennine 27 Sile Veneto Alpine
Draining into the North Sea Reno di LeiFrom the artificial Lago di Lei (the barrage itself is part of Switzerland), the Reno di Lei, properly a torrente and not a river, runs for a few kilometers through northern Italy before entering Switzerland again, and drains via the Reno di Avers and the Hinterrhein into the Rhine.The regime of use of its waters, once used for the watering of grazing livestock, is regulated by the Italian Civil Code. Currently, a negotiated agreement is in force until the end of 80 years in favour of the mountain family community for the use of its waters for the production of electricity in Switzerland, Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica , Div. X, n. 9033 del 21 dicembre 1955, signed Gronchi, Romita, Andreotti. The 'Soc. Val di Lei' is the body with legal personality under private law that manages and administers the rights, ownership and possession of collective domain of Alps and pastures in Reno di Lei Valley, whose extension measured by British army, consists of 12512 acres (Roman measure). The ' Soc. Val i Lei ' has a border disposition , wich includes the dam, with Italian Republic and Swiss Confederation for the illegal division of collective domain.
Draining into the Black Sea
Drava (a short section in Italy, continues into Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary)The Drava drains into the Danube on the Croatia–Serbia border. Slizza (three-quarters in Italy, a quarter in Austria)After entering Austria, the Slizza drains via the Gail into the Drava. Acqua Granda (half in Italy, half in Switzerland)After entering Switzerland, the Spöl drains into the Inn, which meets the Danube in Germany.
Draining into the Adriatic Sea
For the purposes of this list, the Italian rivers draining into the Adriatic Sea begin at the coastal border between Italy and Slovenia and follow the Adriatic coast of Italy until it reaches Santa Maria di Leuca. Beyond this point, rivers empty into the Ionian Sea rather than the Adriatic. The rivers are ordered according to how far along the coast the river mouth is from the Italian/Slovenian border, the first river having its mouth the closest to the border and the last being closest to Santa Maria di Leuca.
Timavo (Reka) Isonzo (Soča) Vipacco (Vipava) Torre Natisone Cormor Ausa Tagliamento Livenza Piave Brenta Bacchiglione Adige Tartaro-Canalbianco-Po di Levante Po Reno Senio Santerno Sillaro Idice Savena Samoggia Limentra di Sambuca Limentra orientale Lamone Uniti Bidente-Ronco Montone Acquacheta Rabbi Savio Rubicon Marecchia San Marino Ausa Marano Conca Foglia Metauro Candigliano Biscubio Burano Cesano Misa Nevola Musone Potenza Chienti Fiastrone Fiastra Tenna Aso Tesino Tronto Castellano Salinello Tordino Vomano Fucino Mavone Piomba Saline Fino Tavo Aterno-Pescara Sagittario Gizio Alento Foro Moro Sangro Trigno Biferno Fortore Carapelle Calaggio Carapellotto Ofanto Locone Canale Reale
Tributaries of the Adige
Avisio Eisack Braibach Derjon Eggentaler Bach Pfitscher Bach Pflerscher Bach Plima Ridnauner Bach Rienz Ahr Reinbach Antholzer Bach Gran Ega Gsieser Bach Pragser Bach Pfunderer Bach Talfer Villnößer Bach Karlinbach Passer Rom Saldurbach Schnalser Bach Suldenbach Falschauer
Tributaries of the Po
The tributaries of the Po are organized into right- and left-hand tributaries. The lists are ordered from the river closest to the source of the Po to the river closest to the mouth of the Po.
Right-hand tributaries Varaita Maira Grana del Monferrato Rotaldo Gattola Stura del Monferrato Tanaro Pesio Ellero Stura di Demonte Gesso Vermenagna Belbo Tinella Borbore Triversa Bormida Bormida di Spigno Orba Piota Gorzente Lemme Stura di Ovada Erro Stura di Demonte Versa Staffora Scrivia Borbera Grue Brevenna Curone Trebbia Nure Arda Taro Ceno Stirone Parma Baganza Enza Crostolo Secchia Panaro
Left-hand tributaries Pellice Chisone Germanasca Chisola Lemina Sangone Dora Riparia Cenischia Dora di Bardonecchia Stura di Lanzo Ceronda Malone Orco Soana Dora Baltea Buthier Évançon Lys Chiusella Sesia Sessera Strona di Postua Cervo Strona di Mosso Ostola Marchiazza Rovasenda Elvo Agogna Erbognone Terdoppio Ticino Olona Lambro Adda Brembo Enna Parina Stabina Seveso (The Seveso enters the Naviglio Martesana canal which enters the Lambro.) Oglio Frigidolfo or Oglio Frigidolfo branch Arcanello or Oglio Arcanello branch Narcanello or Oglio Narcanello branch Valpaghera Valgrande Ogliolo branch Rabbia Remulo Allione (river) Poia (river) Re Re Clegna Figna Blé Palobbia Poia (creek) Re Lanico Trobiolo Grigna Resio Davine Budrio Dezzo Gleno Re Orso Supine Borlezza (The Borlezza enters Lake Iseo which empties into the Oglio.) Rino di Vigolo (The Rino di Vigolo enters Iseo lake which empties into the Oglio.) Rino di Predore (The Rino di Predore enters Iseo lake which empties into the Oglio.) Bagnadore (The Bagnadore enters Iseo lake which empties into the Oglio.) Calchere (The Calchere enters Iseo lake which empties into the Oglio.) Cortelo (The Cortelo enters Iseo lake which empties into the Oglio.) Opelo (The Opelo enters Iseo lake which empties into the Oglio.) Cherio Tadone Malmera Mella Chiese Caffaro (The Caffaro enters Lake Idro which empties into the Chiese.) Re di Anfo (The Re di Anfo enters Lake Idro which empties into the Chiese.) Mincio Sarca (The Sarca enters Lake Garda which empties into the Mincio.) Versa
Rivers draining into Lake Maggiore
Boesio Cannobino Giona Maggia (entirely in Switzerland) Melezzo Orientale (partly in Switzerland) Isorno (partly in Switzerland) Margorabbia San Bernardino Stronetta Toce Anza Bogna Diveria Melezzo Occidentale Ovesca Strona Nigoglia Ticino Tresa
Rivers draining into Lake Como
Adda Albano Breggia Cosia Fiumelatte Liro Mera Acquafraggia Liro Pioverna
Draining into the Ionian Sea
For the purposes of this list, the Italian rivers draining into the Ionian Sea begin at Santa Maria di Leuca in the east and extend to the Strait of Messina in the west. Sicilian rivers are excluded because they are listed in their own section below. The rivers are ordered according to how far east their mouth is, the first river having the easternmost mouth and the last having the westernmost mouth.
Lato Bradano Alvo Basentello Bilioso Gravina Gravina di Matera