(by correspondent Domenico
Palesse)
The 'old lady of the sea' casts off and leaves. The Amerigo
Vespucci leaves Singapore and heads towards Indonesia, the 26th
leg of its world tour, which began 14 months ago in Genoa.
To the tune of 'Con te partirò', hundreds of people and many
Italians who emigrated to Singapore wanted to say goodbye to the
Navy sailing ship that hosted tens of thousands of visitors on
board for five days, once again registering a sell-out.
"The Amerigo Vespucci and the Villaggio Italia have been able to
build a solid bridge between cultures, uniting the soul of Italy
with the beauty of each country visited, creating an
extraordinary bond that will remain forever in history", said
the Undersecretary of Defense, Matteo Perego di Cremnago, during
the closing ceremony.
With the departure of the 'most beautiful ship in the world',
the Villaggio Italia in Singapore also officially closes its
doors, with the second sold-out concert by Serena Autieri.
In just under a week, the 'tricolor square' set up at the Marina
Bay Cruise Center has hosted dozens of talks and forums, film
screenings and digital exhibitions, pop concerts and opera
events, transforming itself into a center of attraction and
entertainment for the suggestive area overlooking the sea.
"Hosting the lady of the seas was a true privilege," said the
Italian ambassador to Singapore, Dante Brandi.
"The Vespucci is much more than a symbol, it is a traveling
ambassador of Italy. In recent days we have painted an Italy
capable of surprising, innovating but also dialoguing."
"If I had to sum up the Singapore stopover in one sentence,"
said the president of Difesa Servizi, Gioacchino Alfano, "I
would say that this is the Italy that does not give up. We are
not Italians, but much more, citizens of the world to whom
history has assigned Italy."
With the evocative skyline as a backdrop, the crew of the
Vespucci bade Singapore farewell for the last time, while the
fanfare of the Naval Academy of Livorno continued tirelessly to
entertain visitors.
The next stop will be in Belawan, Indonesia, from 1 to 4
November.
Afterwards, the sailing ship will reach Phuket, Thailand, where
it will remain from 6 to 10 November.
But only in the following stop, Mumbai, India, from November 28
to December 3, will the Villaggio Italia return.
In four months, the sailing ship that is a symbol of Italy will
celebrate its 94th birthday and will do so, once again, sailing
around the world.
"For the 100th anniversary," announced the Chief of Staff of the
Navy, Admiral Enrico Credendino - there will be a huge event".
For the moment, however, it remains a surprise, while many on
board are starting to fantasize about it.
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