in service in Venice the steamship Cristoforo Colombo, the first "cruise ship", part of the naval program "Riboty" of 1872, forerunner of future cruisers. The unit that had a displacement of 2300 t, was equipped with a powerful British-powered steam engine (3782 hp) powered by six boilers with the relevant speed of 17 knots and was armed with eight medium-caliber cannons.
Set on the Arsenal airports of Venice in February of the 1873 as an 1a warning and launched the 17 1875 in September, it was built on British plans reworked by the then director of 1a class of Genio Navale Benedetto Brin. Although of limited and hybrid characteristics, it will be a significant improvement compared to the previous units.
Source: Military Navy
