Foto di Federico Toniolo
The Amerigo Vespucci is the sailing ship of the Navy built and used as a school vessel for the training of the official students of the Naval Academy. Designed together with the “twin” Christopher Columbus, it was launched in 1931 and for almost a decade was the only sailing school ship of the Italian Navy. Currently the Amerigo Vespucci is the oldest ship of the Navy still in service.
The motto of the ship, officialized in 1978, is “not who begins but what he perseveres” and expresses his vocation to the formation and training of future naval officers.
It is a sailing ship that keeps the old traditions alive. The 26 sails are still made of a very resistant canvas (the canvas Olona), the tops are all still of plant material, and all the maneuvers are rigorously carried out by hand; Each order on board is given by the commander, through the Nostromo, with the whistle.
The crew consists of 14 officers, 72 officers and 190 subheads and municipalities. During the summer months he also embarks on the students of the first year of the Naval Academy of Livorno, about 140, for a total of about 470 people.
Training takes place through educational cruises following different routes: down in Northern Europe 37 times, 20 in the Mediterranean, 4 in the East Atlantic, 7 in North America, 1 in South America and 1 circumnavigated the globe.
Until October 20 This historic sailing ship is moored in Riva San Biagio in front of the arsenal.
For those who want to run to visit it here are the timetable
Thursday 19 October: 10-12 visits on board (organized groups)
Thursday 19 October: 14.30-18.30 visits on board