The historic sailing and training vessel of the Italian Navy, the Amerigo Vespucci, and ambassador of Made in Italy worldwide, will dock at the Port of Los Angeles from July 3 to 8. Alongside the Vespucci, the Villaggio Italia, a ‘Multi-Year Traveling World Exposition’ showcasing Italian excellence, will offer visitors a unique opportunity to explore the soul and beauty of Italy.
The Villaggio Italia inaugural ceremony will be held on Wednesday, July 3, at 10:30 a.m., featuring remarks by Italy’s Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, a key supporter of the project. Distinguished attendees will include Mariangela Zappia, Italian Ambassador to the U.S.; Admiral Enrico Credendino, Chief of the Italian Navy; General Luca Goretti, Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force; Luca Andreoli, CEO of Difesa Servizi; Captain Giuseppe Lai, Commander of the Amerigo Vespucci; Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer; Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County Supervisor; and Erin Bromaghim, Los Angeles Deputy Mayor. The closing ceremony on July 8 will be attended by Deputy Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Valentino Valentini.
Guests can board the Amerigo Vespucci ship daily to experience the charm of the “most beautiful ship in the world,” a custodian of ancient naval and maritime traditions for over ninety years and an emblem of the Italian Navy. For times and reservations, visit tourvespucci.it/en/events/come-aboard .
Villaggio Italia, covering nearly 130,000 square feet of exhibition space, will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (opening at 4 p.m. on July 3 and closing at 12:30 p.m. on July 8). For more information on times and schedules, visit tourvespucci.it/en/legs/los-angeles-2 .
Frecce Tricolori On July 4 at 4 p.m., July 6 at 7:15 p.m., and July 8 at 7 p.m., the Frecce Tricolori, the Italian Air Force’s National Aerobatic Team, will perform air shows over Los Angeles, flying above the Vespucci as part of their North America Tour (NAT).
Music Visitors can enjoy daily performances by the Carabinieri’s Fanfara Cadet Team both inside and outside Villaggio Italia, extending to Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, and Beverly Gardens Park (times available on tourvespucci.it/en ). On July 5 at 7 p.m., musicians from the Milan-based La Scala Academy will perform at Villaggio Italia.
Exhibitions Villaggio Italia will feature many free-access exhibitions, including:
*
Italian Sports:
The exhibition will include historic Olympic Torches from the Italian Olympics and feature champions and supporters of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.*
Art:
Villaggio Italia will showcase “La David,” a modern bronze reinterpretation of Michelangelo’s masterpiece by Jago, a prominent contemporary Italian artist, with a meeting with the artist on July 6 at 5 p.m.*
Cinema:
There will be screenings of internationally acclaimed Italian films selected by the Venice Biennale, including:*
Italian Cuisine:
Visitors will also enjoy Italian cuisine with Eataly’s “Ristorante Italia,” show cooking sessions, conferences, and an immersive exhibition. From 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily, attendees can taste the “Aperitivo all’Italiana.” Reservations are available at tourvespucci.it/en/los-angeles-3-8-july-2024 .Every evening at 8:09 p.m., guests can watch the flag-lowering ceremony of the Amerigo Vespucci from the dock.
Following Los Angeles, the Vespucci and Villaggio Italia will visit Tokyo, Japan (Aug. 25-30); Darwin, Australia (Oct. 4-7); Singapore (Oct. 24-28); Mumbai, India (Nov. 28-Dec. 2); Abu Dhabi, UAE (Dec. 17-19); Doha, Qatar (Dec. 22-25); and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Jan. 20-24, 2025).
The Villaggio Italia initiative is supported by the Ministry of Defense and involves the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, various other Italian ministries, and the Ministry of Tourism.
