The renowned Amerigo Vespucci, often hailed as the pride of the Italian Navy and described as the “Most Beautiful Ship in the World,” is making a notable visit to Honolulu. The historic training vessel arrived in the city on Thursday and will be open to the public until Sunday, offering a unique opportunity to explore one of the world’s most celebrated naval ships.
Upon arrival, the ship was warmly welcomed by Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, alongside military and diplomatic officials and members of the local Italian community.
Mayor Blangiardi, who has Italian heritage, expressed his excitement and honor at the ship’s visit. “Given my Italian heritage, this is just something really extra special. But we are greatly honored to have the crew and the ship here in Honolulu,” Blangiardi said.
The Amerigo Vespucci, which was last in Honolulu 22 years ago during its inaugural world tour, is now halfway through its second global journey. This tour will see the vessel visiting 32 countries over two years, providing valuable real-world training for Naval Academy cadets.
Since 1931, every Italian sailor has undergone training aboard the Vespucci, making its visit to Honolulu a significant event in its storied history.
Captain Giuseppe Lai, the vessel's current commander, emphasized the ship’s role in representing Italy beyond just military purposes. “It’s a tradition that goes back 93 years,” Captain Lai said. “The mission is to represent Italy, our culture, our tradition, our technology, our research, in a world tour that is not only about Italian defense.
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