Amerigo Vespucci, the World’s Most Beautiful Ship, to grace Phuket

Named after the 15th-century Florentine explorer, Amerigo Vespucci is Italy’s oldest active naval vessel and is widely considered the world’s most beautiful ship. Soon, she’ll grace Thailand’s port as part of a global tour showcasing Italian maritime heritage and culture.

(All photos courtesy of the Amerigo Vespucci World Tour)

The tallest of her three masts stands at 54 metres high. Her 24 square sails total 2,650 square metres – the area of approximately 10 Tennis courts – while her cables and rigging, end-to-end, would stretch for 36 kilometres. She has an overall length of 101 metres, including her bowspirt, and is 15.5 metres at her widest. She is considered to be the most beautiful of her kind. Her name is Amerigo Vespucci. She’s Italian, and she’s coming to Phuket.

Named after the Florentine explorer of the 15th and 16th centuries, Amerigo Vespucci is the oldest active Military vessel in the Italian Navy (Marina Militare). A tall, full square rigged ship built at the Naval Shipyard of CastellaMMAre in Naples in 1930, she was officially launched on February 22, 1931 and put into service by July of that year. Today, she is still in use as a training ship and has a home port in La Spezia, Italy. However, since July 2023, Amerigo Vespucci has embarked on her year-and-a-half world tour, which will soon be making a stop in Thailand.

The Amerigo Vespucci World Tour began in Genoa last year and subsequently made stops at port cities throughout Europe, Africa, the Carribean, Americas, and Polynesia. Currently in the Asia and Oceania region, she has so far visited Tokyo, Manila, Darwin, and Singapore, with a stop in Belawan planned before Phuket.

From November 6 to 10, the ship will be docked at the Phuket Deep Sea port on the island’s Panwa Cape. Her arrival not only signifies a highly anticipated event for local History enthusiasts and admirers of maritime tradition, but will also represent an extraordinary cultural and gastronomic exchange not to be missed! For instance, on November 8, the ship will host an Italian wine tasting along with a celebration of the flavours of Italy. Massimiliano Scotti, who has been named the Best Gelato Maker in Europe, will be in attendance, offering participants the opportunity to savour the art of authentic Italian gelato with an innovative twist. 

Besides specific events, exhibitions, and showcases, the public will also receive the opportunity to witness the ship up close in all her glory, including the life-size figurehead of Amerigo Vespucci, the explorer, located at the bow. The ship boasts three main decks – upper, middle, and tween – and two superstructures: the forecastle and the aft castle. She is also equipped with two motorboats, two motor launches, two motor pinnaces, four sailing and rowing lifeboats, and one rowing and sailing whaleboat. Her CoMMAnder, Francesco Rotundi, oversees a main crew of 264 Military personnel, which is divided into 15 officers, 30 non-commissioned officers, 34 sergeants, and 185 Petty officers and seamen.

Representing Italian heritage and perseverance, Amerigo Vespucci embodies her motto, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci: “Not who begins, but he who perseveres.”

More information on the Amerigo Vespucci World Tour 2023-2025 can be found on tourvespucci.it/en with details of the Thailand leg to be revealed closer to the dates.