ship Amerigo Vespucci has arrived in port in Buenos Aires, where it will stop until March 21st before setting sail again as part of the world tour which will touch 5 continents, dock in 30 ports and end in 2025.
The 'Lady of the Seas', ambassador of Made in Italy and Italian culture, will be open to the public as will the 'Villaggio Italia' set up on land: visitors are offered an experiential and immersive journey into the values of Italian tradition, which will be replicated during future stops in Los Angeles, Tokyo, Darwin, Singapore, Mumbai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Jeddah.
Conceived as a sort of traveling Expo, the 'Villaggio Italia' hosts various national excellences, with the aim of enhancing Italian productions and strengthening cultural and commercial relations with Argentina, which boasts one of the largest Italian communities in the world. The calendar of events planned in the city for the occasion is also significant: concerts, exhibitions, conferences and themed film screenings.
"The project was born precisely from the desire to combine the traditional training activity of the officer students of our Navy with its role as ambassador. After 72 years the Vespucci returns to Buenos Aires for its World Tour in the name of maritime tradition and Made in Italy, but also of a strong Italian cultural dimension which over the years has contributed to the growth and prestige of our country", declared the Undersecretary of State for Defense the Hon. Matteo Perego of Cremnago, representing the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto.
Daniela Santanchè, Italian Minister of Tourism, underlined in her greeting address to the guests that “The Vespucci, symbol of 'Made in Italy' that crosses seas and oceans and a driving force for the Italian economy and culture, represents a unique opportunity both to promote and strengthen the 'Italy' brand abroad and to create the conditions of future international collaborations also in the tourism sector. The arrival of the sailing ship in Argentina - a country where one of the largest Italian communities resides - takes place in the year of tourism of Italian roots in the world, which makes the event even more significant, because it will be able to provide an important contribution both in the consolidation of the great friendship between Italy and Argentina, and in the increase in tourist flows between the two nations".
“Difesa Servizi strongly supports and believes in the world tour of the Amerigo Vespucci, in particular in the creation of the Italia village and in the development of the promotion of Made in Italy. A traveling Expo, a 'bubble of Italianness', of which the most beautiful ship in the world becomes an interpreter and ambassador; an idea that is also entirely Italian, a unique initiative at an international level, which goes in the direction of intercepting and enhancing the desire for Italy that exists at a global level", the CEO of Difesa Servizi SpA, Dr., was keen to point out. Luca Andreoli.
The crew of the Vespucci he was welcomed by the Argentine civil and military authorities and by the Italian ambassador to Buenos Aires, Fabrizio Lucentini.
“I extend special thanks to the Argentine Navy for the friendship, closeness and availability it has shown to the Navy – declared Admiral Pietro Covino, representing the Chief of Staff of the Navy Enrico Credendino – guaranteeing Vespucci and its crew every form of possible support to facilitate their stay in this magnificent country. Planning a world tour lasting almost 2 years is a challenge won".
According to the commander of the Vespucci, captain of vessel Giuseppe Lai, “This is a unique opportunity: in addition to the traditional values of maritime culture and training of officer students, our message extends to Italian culture at 360°: tourism, scientific research, food and wine. Vespucci has the role of 'floating embassy', amplified to the maximum during these 20 months".
The World Tour of Vespucci is an initiative created in collaboration with Difesa Servizi SpA, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Defense which supports all phases of the campaign and sees the active involvement of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers - with the Minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies and the Minister for Sport and Youth - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security.
