The present invention relates to a process for the recovery of ammonia contained in a gaseous stream, said process comprising the following phases: (a) subjecting the gaseous stream containing ammonia to a washing with an aqueous washing solution having a pH lower than 7.0, with the formation of a purified gaseous stream and an aqueous solution containing an ammonium salt; (b) treating the aqueous solution containing the ammonium salt coming from phase (a) in a vertical falling film heat exchanger at a temperature from 50 to 250° C. and an absolute pressure ranging from 50 KPa to 4 MPa with the formation of a regenerated washing solution and a gaseous stream comprising NH3 and H2O; (c) recycling said regenerated washing solution to phase (a). The present invention also relates to equipment for effecting the above process.