The inaugural ceremony of the U.S. leg of the world tour of Nave Amerigo Vespucci, the historic sailing ship and training ship of the Italian Navy and former ambassador of Made in Italy in the world, was held in Los Angeles, as well as of Villaggio Italia, the multi-year Itinerant World Expo of Italian excellence that for seven more legs will flank the Vespucci's tour.

The inauguration took place in the presence of Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, who strongly supported the project. The ceremony was also attended by Italy's Ambassador to the United States of America Mariangela Zappia and numerous senior Italian military officials.

"We chose Nave Vespucci to promote Made in Italy, with a project involving multiple ministries and strongly supported by the entire government. The Italy Village inaugurated for the Los Angeles stop - in which the Fanfare of the Carabinieri Cadet Legion and the Frecce Tricolori will also be present - encapsulates all Italian excellence, from technology to art, from music to culture. Excellences that in this long voyage around the World of the Vespucci ship will be a prestigious showcase of Made in Italy and a strong propeller for our economy and the image of Italy in the World that today travels propelled by the sails of the Vespucci," said Defense Minister Guido Crosetto.

Until July 8, every day visitors will be able to board Nave Vespucci to get up close and personal with the charms of the "most beautiful ship in the world," guardian of the oldest seafaring traditions for more than 90 years and emblem of the Navy.

Ashore, the Italy Village welcomes visitors to the large "Piazza Italia," which every day offers a rich schedule of encounters with the excellence of Made in Italy: from the Frecce Tricolori of the Air Force, which will fly over the skies of Los Angeles on July 4, 6 and 8 as part of the North America Tour (NAT), to the music of the Fanfare of the Carabinieri Cadets Legion, which will perform inside and outside the Village. Musicians from the Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Milan; internationally successful Italian films curated by the Venice Biennale's International Film Festival; and contemporary Italian art with Jago, who created the bronze work "La David" for the Vespucci world tour, on display at the Italy Village. Made in Italy is also at the center of the project with a series of scheduled events that tell its story and the presence at the opening ceremony of ICE President Matteo Zoppas; design with the "Italia Geniale" exhibition; and infrastructure and technology between the present and the future, from MOSE in Venice to the Messina Strait Bridge project.

Italian cuisine and sports are also big players with the exhibition of the historic Olympic Torches. Sustainability and Italy's landscape heritage are, on the other hand, at the center of a photographic exhibition on the beauty of the Italian seas, an exhibition in continuity with the environmental protection actions carried out by the Vespucci in academia and universities while also promoting the objectives of World Oceans Day.