Villaggio Italia opens, Darwin dresses in Italian flag

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 5 - (by correspondent Domenico Palesse) As the sun goes down, the Darwin Convention Centre lights up with the Italian flag.
    On the walkway leading to the pier, tourists and onlookers take turns to take a souvenir photo with the Amerigo Vespucci.
    The silhouette of the sailing ship stands out on the horizon, while thousands of visitors line up to climb aboard and admire what is known by all as the 'most beautiful ship in the world'.
    The Villaggio Italia, the traveling expo that promotes the country's excellence, was inaugurated today to accompany the Australian stop of the Navy training ship.
    Italian and local authorities took part in the ceremony, in a show that closed with a performance by the Folgore paratroopers, who landed right next to the Vespucci.
    The 24th stop on the world tour will offer visitors the opportunity to participate in talks and conferences, as well as exhibitions and film screenings.
    For three days, the Darwin Convention Centre will become the home of Italians, an agora where you can learn about and appreciate the beauty of our country, including an immersive exhibition dedicated to Made in Italy.
    "The ties with Australia are increasingly close," said Deputy Business and Made in Italy Minister Valentino Valentini.
    "A million Italians live here who are very well integrated into society, where there is great demand for Made in Italy products and great collaboration in the mining sector and new green and digital activities." "The Amerigo Vespucci," explained the ambassador to Canberra, Paolo Crudele, "means, first and foremost, friendship between Italians and Australians.
    "The passage of the Navy training ship means bringing the taste of Italy here, the greatness of our production and our companies and, at the same time, our culture." As always, defence ministry in-house company Difesa Servizi will manage and coordinate the Villaggio Italia.
    "It is a live showcase of what Italy can demonstrate - underlined the president, Gioacchino Alfano.
    "I am proud to be able to show this to those who are here in Australia, including many Italian emigrants, important brands and companies of our country. "The welcome we are receiving shows that we are a great people and a great country, but we cannot stop here, we must all do our part".
    And the affection of the Australian community towards Italy is more than tangible.
    In fact, thousands climbed aboard the Vespucci on the first day of opening.
    "A unique emotion", is the unanimous comment of those who had the opportunity to climb aboard. There were long lines to visit one of the last sailing ships that still sail the sea.
    The Vespucci is an elderly 93-year-old 'lady' who, even today, enchants anyone who meets her 'gaze'. (ANSA).