Italian government officials and local dignitaries attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Italian government officials and local dignitaries attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Ambassador Mariangela Zappia join fellow Italian officials and local dignitaries for the inaugural ceremony for the Villaggio Italia – Amerigo Vespucci Ship World Tour in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and City Councilman Tim McOsker attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Ambassador Mariangela Zappia join fellow Italian officials and local dignitaries for a ribbon cutting during the inaugural ceremony for the Villaggio Italia – Amerigo Vespucci Ship World Tour in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto joins fellow Italian officials and local dignitaries to attend the inaugural ceremony for the Villaggio Italia – Amerigo Vespucci Ship World Tour in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Italian government officials and local dignitaries attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Captain Giuseppe Lai walks past his crew during a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Italian government officials and local dignitaries attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto greets Supervisor Janice Hahn after the inaugural ceremony for the Villaggio Italia – Amerigo Vespucci Ship World Tour in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Ambassador Mariangela Zappia joins fellow Italian officials and local dignitaries for an inaugural ceremony for the Villaggio Italia – Amerigo Vespucci Ship World Tour in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Italian government officials and local dignitaries attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto joins fellow Italian officials and local dignitaries to attend the inaugural ceremony for the Villaggio Italia – Amerigo Vespucci Ship World Tour in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Italian government officials and local dignitaries attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Ambassador Mariangela Zappia join fellow Italian officials and local dignitaries for a ribbon cutting during the inaugural ceremony for the Villaggio Italia – Amerigo Vespucci Ship World Tour in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Italian government officials and local dignitaries attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Fiona Ma, treasurer for the State of California, joins Italian officials and local dignitaries for the inaugural ceremony for the Villaggio Italia – Amerigo Vespucci Ship World Tour in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Italian government officials and local dignitaries attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Italian government officials and local dignitaries attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Italian government officials and local dignitaries attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Italian government officials and local dignitaries attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Italian government officials and local dignitaries attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Italian government officials and local dignitaries attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Italian government officials and local dignitaries attend a ceremony to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship in the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Amerigo Vespucci, tall ship of the Italian Navy (Marina Militare) named after the explorer Amerigo Vespucci arrives in the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.The vessel will be docked in San Pedro through July 8 and the public can take free tours. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
There was no shortage of pomp and circumstance — both Italian and American — when dignitaries and invited guests gathered on Wednesday, July 3, to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship to the L.A. Waterfront’s Outer Harbor in San Pedro.
Sailors from both countries participated in the festivities next to the nearly 100-year-old tall ship, which will be open for public tours (with reservations) through July 8, along with land-side Italian-themed activities and exhibits.
The ship arrived on Tuesday and was schedule to open to the public the following day.
But first there was the inaugural ceremony, marking the latest stop on the ship’s world tour, which began in 2023 and will continue through early 2025.
“This is not an easy ship” to handle, said Italian Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, who was instrumental in arranging the ambitious and often difficult tour.
It took the skill of handling a vessel that has none of the modern technology to rely on, he said.
Guido paid tribute to the long friendship between the American and Italian people and nations, harkening back to the days of World War II.
Americans, he said, sacrificed their own lives “defending the freedom of Italy and Europe.” He referred to the U.S. and Italy as “two great nations.”
He ended his talk with calls of “Viva la Italia! Viva la Amerigo Vespucci! Viva la United States!”
Most of the speakers during the hourlong ceremony spoke in their native language; ongoing translations were provided through devices handed out to guests when they arrived.
The historic ship’s stop off the coast of Los Angeles will also offer an Italian village, with exhibitions dedicated to Italian design history; the country’s wine heritage; a “roots” exhibition dedicated to Italians abroad and Italian descendants wishing to reconnect with their origins; a “We are the Sea” photographic exhibition highlighting the beauty of Italian seas; a look at business and the Italian economic model; historic Olympic torches; “La David,” a new bronze work and reinterpretation of the iconic Michelangelo masterpiece created by Jago ( meet the artist at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 6); a tribute to Italian food every day from 5 to 7:30 p.m.; a flag lowering ceremony at 8:09 p.m. every day on the deck of the ship.
The village hours are from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily through Sunday, and then from 9 a.m. to 12:30 on the final day, Monday.
The Italian Air Force’s National Aerobatic team will perform an air show over Los Angeles at 4 p.m. Thursday, 7:15 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Monday.
Performances by the Carabinieri’s Fanfare Cadet Team will play daily inside and outside the village footprint, and will also visit Hollywood, the Santa Monica Pier and Beverly Gardens Park (see the website — tourvespucci.it/en — for details).
At 7 p.m. Friday, musicians from the Milan-based La Scala Academy will be featured in a performance at the village.
