The extended and festive Fourth of July weekend visit by the Italian tall ship Amerigo Vespucci came to an end on Monday, July 8, as the ship’s crew and well-wishers gathered at San Pedro’s Outer Harbor to send the ship on its way.
The vessel, on a lengthy world tour, arrived on Tuesday, July 2, and was welcomed with a ceremony featuring Italian dignitaries the following day. From there, it hosted guests for on-board tours and saw crowds of visitors, who wandered through an on-dock Italian village featuring crafts and cuisine from the popular European tourist spot. The Port of LA area, in past decades, also drew many people from Italy because of its commercial fishing opportunities.
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci said arrivederci to the Port of Los Angeles on Monday July 8, 2024. The tall ship had been open for tours over the 4th of July weekend. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
“We’re grateful to the Italian minister of defense and all those involved in bringing the Amerigo Vespucci to the Port of Los Angeles for its only United States stop on a two-year world tour,” Port of L.A. spokesperson Phillip Sanfield said in a written comment.
The vessel, whic boasts the nickname “the most beautiful ship in the world,” was named for Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Florence, from whose name the term “America” is derived.
“The majestic vessel and the accompanying Villaggio Italia village drew thousands of visitors from near and far to the L.A. Waterfront,” Sanfield said, adding that the port looked forward to bringing the Amerigo Vespucci back in the future.
Following its Los Angeles visit, the vessel will travel to Japan, Australia, India, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudia Arabia.
The 20-month tour of the world began on July 1, 2023. The vessel is scheduled to return to its homeport on Feb. 26, 2025. It will have traveled approximately 40,000 miles.
The Vespucci, according to the ship’s tour website, was commissioned in May 1930 and launched in February 1931. The ship entered service in July of that year as a training ship for the Livorno Naval Academy, with the aim of training future officers for the Royal Navy. It is also known as a “floating embassy” of Italy with its primary function to train officer cadets.
