Vespucci leaves Singapore, Villaggio Italia goes to Mumbai

(ANSA) - SINGAPORE, OCT 29 - (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. (ANSA).