The historic sailing ship Amerigo Vespucci, a training vessel of the Italian Navy and a symbol of Italian excellence around the globe, is set to make its inaugural visit to the United Arab Emirates in its 93-year history. The ship will dock in Abu Dhabi from December 27 to 31 as the 31st stop on its World Tour, which commenced in Italy on July 1, 2023.
While in Abu Dhabi, the Amerigo Vespucci will be accompanied by Villaggio Italia, an international exhibition showcasing Italy’s finest. This collaboration emphasizes the World Tour as a unified representation of the nation’s values and a platform for promoting Italian excellence across various sectors—serving as a vital contributor to both the economy and the spread of Italian culture.
Hosted at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port and developed in partnership with Experience Abu Dhabi, Villaggio Italia will also highlight the strong ties between Italy and the United Arab Emirates—a key strategic partner for Italy in terms of foreign relations and business, and home to a significant Italian community.
The “Vespucci World Tour – Villaggio Italia” initiative, strongly endorsed by Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto and supported by 11 different ministries alongside the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, blends the ship’s traditional training and naval diplomacy with a robust promotion of Made in Italy at major ports visited throughout the tour. This marks the seventh installment of Villaggio Italia, following events in cities such as Los Angeles, Tokyo, Darwin, Singapore, Mumbai, and Doha.
Notable Italian officials expected to attend the Villaggio Italia in Abu Dhabi include Lorenzo Fontana, President of the Chamber of Deputies; Defense Minister Guido Crosetto; Hon. Maria Tripodi, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Senator Isabella Rauti, Undersecretary of State for Defense; Lorenzo Fanara, Ambassador of Italy to the UAE; Admiral Aurelio De Carolis, Commander in Chief of the Naval Fleet; and Luca Andreoli, CEO of Difesa Servizi, the Ministry of Defense’s in-house company supporting this initiative.
During its stay in Abu Dhabi, both the Amerigo Vespucci and the Villaggio Italia will welcome the public for free visits.
