Amerigo Vespucci. The most beautiful ship in the world performs 87 years

(To Marina Militare)
23/02/18

It is the morning of a classic rainy winter Sunday that of 22 February 1931 when the School Ship Amerigo Vespucci, imposing and immobile, awaits its moment on the tuscades of the historic Royal shipyard of Castellammare di Stabia, founded in 1783.

The inscription "Amerigo Vespucci" can be seen from the stern socket, there is still no trace of the garden nor the friezes in pure gold leaf in the stern. There is not even the golden bronze figure on the fore-end.

This is a very felt event on the part of the authorities, of the workers but above all of the citizens. In little more than 9 months from the date of the construction (12 May 1930) the professionalism and excellence of shipbuilding of the time were able to give birth to a real jewel.

Nothing happens by chance. Everything is taken care of in the smallest details. The date has also been carefully chosen. Precisely the 22 February in which there is the anniversary of the death of the Florentine navigator, to whom the ship was named, which took place in the 1522.

HE Pasquale Ragosta, bishop of the city, at the end of the celebration of Mass at the chapel of the yard, goes on the stage of the authorities from which he blesses the ship and then also the whole crowd of spectators, unaware witnesses, of a historic event.

Also taking place on the stage is the godmother of the launch, Miss Elena Cerio, daughter of the maritime commander Oscar Cerio, who sits next to her.

Everything's ready. It is 10.30 o'clock when col. Odoardo Giannelli, director of the shipyard, pronounces, in a loud voice, excited, the long-awaited ... "In the name of God, cut!"

Following the godmother leaves the bottle of sparkling wine that ends its run by breaking against the bow of the ship while, almost simultaneously, the ax strikes on the trinche in the absolute and surreal silence of those present.

The ship slowly begins to slip on the wooden sliding floor towards the waters of the Gulf of Naples, the silence is broken by the applause, spontaneous and thunderous eruptions, of the enthusiastic people and the deafening whistle of the sirens of the other ships in port.

Il Mare Nostrum, bathing with its waters the riveted plates of the hull, had symbolically baptized the School Ship Amerigo Vespucci that was about to cover the first miles of a long and glorious navigation that would take her, for 87 years, around the seven seas to be admired as the one that, by now, is recognized as the most beautiful ship in the world!

yesterday morning, meeting in general assembly, the commander of Nave Vespucci and her crew celebrated, 87 years later, the birthday of the Lady of the Seas. It was an opportunity to relive, once again and all together, the rite of the passing revue in the reading of the chronicles of 22 February 1931. The event was also attended by some of the civil and military representatives of the Arsenal of La Spezia, the local technical offices of the naval team and private industries that in this particular period are paying great attention and dedication to the planned maintenance activities in anticipation of the next Education Campaign.

The celebrations ended with the traditional cutting of the cake and with the happy birthday toast to the "Most Beautiful Ship in the World" which tirelessly continues, with pride and pride, to travel the world and perform with the traditional perseverance that distinguishes it, her assignments as training ship and ambassador of made in Italy and its excellence as well as messenger of the fundamental values ​​of the Navy.