A festival to mark the anniversary of one of the worst floods Florence has ever seen takes place in October.

The Arno Festival, named after the river that burst its banks, is held to raise money for city defences.

It was estimated the flood destroyed 5,000 families' homes and ruined 6,000 businesses when it hit on November 3rd, 1966.

Millions of books and thousands of works of art were irrevocably damaged in a city that was ill-prepared for a disaster.

More than 40 years later, Florence citizens are trying to improve the banks and quality of the Arno.

Last year townsfolk decided the Italian government should pay half of €200 million-plans to strengthen the city's defences, with the region contributing the other half.

Although Arno campaigners say they have received €34 million from the region, nothing has come from the government.

The festival ,which includes canoeing, walking, cycling and a parade of horses, is held every year to raise a little towards protecting the Arno.

Organisers would also like to see an improvement in the environment around the Arno, with a bike path from the source of the river to its mouth, and have urged tourists to stay in affordable accommodation in Florence for the festival.

Tuscany's Arno is described as the most important river in central Italy after the Tiber.

It is 241 km and passes Empoli before joining the sea at the Marina di Pisa.