(by correspondent Domenico Palesse) Villaggio Italia has 'gotten big' and transformed from being a travelling expo to a platform for ideas, the sounding board and amplifier for international debates and events.
So in Singapore, the initiative the accompanies the Amerigo Vespucci on its world tour will become even more of a big virtual stage with more than just 'institutional' initiatives, but also journalistic, economic and cultural ones.
At its side, moored on the quay, is the Amerigo Vespucci which, at sunset, 'dresses' up in the tricolour of the Italian flag, while thousands of visitors line up to get on board the 'most beautiful ship in the world'.
The lights come on at the Marina Bay Cruise Center in Singapore.
The conference hall and the ministry lounge are preparing to host the first events, the meetings that will animate 'Piazza Italia' for four days.
Visitors enjoy ice cream - strictly Italian ones - at the restaurant, while images of places that symbolize the Bel Paese rotate on the screens, from Rome to Florence, Milan and Palermo.
A little further on, on the quay, the 'Brilliant Italy' exhibition also opens its doors, showing the symbols of Made in Italy, from the Vespa to the Moka.
Deputy Business and Made in Italy Minister Valentino Valentini described it as a "laboratory of ideas and innovation".
Difesa Servizi CEO Luca Andreoli expressed satisfaction too.
"We are very happy," Andreoli said.
"Being a platform was one of the objectives we set ourselves from the beginning. This is why the Singapore stage is proving to be an increasingly important one.
"As with the other stages, we are holding the inauguration with all the events and initiatives we have put in place at Villaggio Italia sold out.
"The signals are excellent, we expect a great response from the public, but above all from the media and social networks." At the end of the opening ceremony, the Vespucci ship gave the green light to visits on board.
"Everything is sold out for this stage too," said the commander, the captain of the vessel, Giuseppe Lai.
"Anyone who does not know the ship and gets on it for the first time is enchanted not only by its majesty, but also by the many details it is composed of, all of which are functional and fundamental" Deputy Minister Valentini said that: "this splendid ship should be given the rank of ambassador.
"I hope it will be officially nominated at the end of this tour by the foreign ministry because it is effectively a floating embassy that does us great honour and immediately manages to capture and touch hearts and stir the emotions of those who visit it," he continued.
Who knows? Perhaps one day it will be necessary to address it as 'your highness'.
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