Vespucci and Frecce Tricolori, Los Angeles celebrates Italy

(ANSA) - LOS ANGELES, 03 LUG - Los Angeles welcomes the flagship of Made in Italy. The Italian Navy's training ship, the Amerigo Vespucci, which departed from Genoa on 1 July 2023 and will touch down in the Californian metropolis as part of an international tour across five continents and three oceans, has arrived at the port of San Pedro. The historic sailing ship will remain in town until 8 July. Until then it will be possible to book a free visit on board and stop at the 'Villaggio Italia', set up at the dock: 12 thousand square metres with stands of institutions and Made in Italy companies, spaces for film screenings, art exhibitions and a restaurant.
    Today the inauguration ceremony in the presence of Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, Ambassador Mariangela Zappia, Consul General Raffaella Valentini, Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles Erin Bromaghim, and, of course, the military dignitaries accompanying the sailing ship. A key moment of the celebrations will be tomorrow, 4 July, when the Frecce Tricolori will soar over the City of Angels. They will also do so on 6 and 8 July, to greet the ship as it departs for Hawaii.
    "The landing in the United States of the most beautiful ship in the world - as the US Navy itself defines it - and of all the Italy it brings with it, is a source of pride for us and fits perfectly into the Farnesina's growth diplomacy action that we carry out in the United States together with all the players of Sistema Italia," Ambassador Zappia pointed out. "We are delighted that the Amerigo Vespucci training ship and the Villaggio Italia have chosen Los Angeles, the centre of gravity of one of the most dynamic areas of the United States and the world; a land where creativity, enterprise, culture, innovation, the same strengths of the Made in Italy that we promote here, stand out thanks to the contribution of so many Italian talents," she concluded.
    The local Italian American community is celebrating. In the Los Angeles area, Southern California and the neighbouring states of Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico, there are about two million Italian-Americans and 35,000 Italians, including creative people who come to work in the entertainment and music industries, restaurateurs, as well as scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs attracted by the technology and aerospace sectors. According to data from the consulate, the trade interchange between the Los Angeles area and Italy in 2023 exceeded $4.3 billion ($5.6 billion considering the whole of California), with a largely positive balance for Italy.