Riva 130' Bellissima: Touring the Flagship of the Riva Fleet

Few names in boating carry the weight of Riva. From the mahogany runabouts of the 1950s to today's fleet, the brand has stood for a very specific idea of Italian elegance on the water. The 130' Bellissima is that idea at its largest. Riva calls it the flagship of its fleet, and the builder says it is the first planing flybridge in the range to extend across three full decks while staying under 300 gross tons. We toured a 2024 example end to end.

The shape of a flagship

Riva lists the Bellissima at roughly 40 meters, about 130 feet, with an 8-meter beam. Styling comes from Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta of Officina Italiana Design, the studio behind decades of modern Rivas, working with the Ferretti Group engineering department and the product committee led by Piero Ferrari. The signature details are all here: the silver hull with black glazing strokes, carbon fiber accents, all-glass fashion plates aft, and a windshield treatment that echoes the Dolceriva.

The spaces are what a walkthrough was made for. Riva describes a stern beach club opening to the water, a cockpit of over 60 square meters, and an upper deck alfresco dining area that seats up to ten. The main deck salon carries a 270-degree view through full-length glazing, with a polished marble staircase connecting decks. Accommodations put the master suite on the main deck with four ensuite guest cabins below, per Riva, plus quarters for crew forward.

Performance without the bulk

For all the volume, this is still a planing yacht. Riva lists twin MTU 16V 2000 engines, a top speed of 22.5 knots, and a 20-knot cruise. Keeping the yacht under 300 gross tons also matters practically: it keeps regulatory and crewing requirements simpler than larger superyachts face, which owners and captains both appreciate.

Who buys a Bellissima

This is a yacht for owners who could buy anything and choose heritage. It suits the family that summers in the Med and wants a yacht that is unmistakable at the dock in Monaco without a single loud design gesture. It is also, frankly, aspirational viewing for the rest of us, and that is exactly what a good walkthrough is for.

Watch the full tour on the Nautical Network YouTube channel, and explore more originals from yachts across the spectrum. For boats within reach today, there is always the marketplace.