AMERIGO VESPUCCI VISITS MANILA FOR THE FIRST TIME

Something beautiful just arrived in the Philippines—yeah, something huge. Italy's naval pride, Amerigo Vespucci, has docked at the Pier 15 South Harbor in Manila City, and it's a spectacle that the country is seeing for the very first time!

The 93-year-old Italian vessel made its historic entrance to the Philippine waters on September 13, 2024. It's the first time that the vessel, dubbed the World's Most Beautiful Ship, has visited the Philippines since it first set sail in 1931.

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How to Visit Amerigo Vespucci in Manila

The Embassy of Italy in the Philippines announced that the ship is open for the public to visit and get a sight of its magnificent amenities aboard, while it's still docked at Pier 15, until September 17, 2024 only. It's totally free, but entrance will be on a first come, first served basis. Visitors can check out the official Facebook page of the Italian Embassy and Amerigo Vespucci's official Instagram account for the guests' registration process.

Why is Amerigo Vespucci in Manila?

But aside from opening their doors to the public, Amerigo Vespucci's stay in Manila also became an opportunity for the Italy and Philippines' naval forces to embark on training and cultural exchange activities.

Amid weather concerns, it was smooth sailing for Amerigo Vespucci on her way to the Philippines. That's according to Commander Guiseppe Lai, who told the reporters, "The navigation was smooth after the initial weather concerns, with no significant encounters aside from a few merchant vessels en route."

Amerigo Vespucci's arrival in the Philippines is also a part of Italy's goal of enhancing maritime ties with Southeast Asia. Before Manila, the vessel had a two-week stay in Tokyo as well.

On their official Instagram account, the team of Amerigo Vespucci posted some of the moments they shared with the Filipinos during their short but sweet visit to Manila. "A symbolic moment full of meaning. We come from different seas, but we meet in the same ideals," they wrote in the caption. The Instagram Reel they uploaded showed some clips of Philippine Navy cadets onboard the magnificent vessel and mingling with its Italian Naval crew.

LOOK: Brief History About Amerigo Vespucci

Amerigo Vespucci was named after the Italian explorer known for her explorations during the New World expeditions, Amerigo Vespucci. She first sailed from Genoa, Italy on February 22, 1931. According to the Sail Training International, Amerigo Vespucci was supposed to resemble a "wooden warship" from the 19th Century but used steel plates for its hull—making its gross tonnage a total of 3,410 tons. As of writing, Amerigo Vespucci's crew count is at 270, while there are 150 cadets onboard.

To clarify, Amerigo Vespucci is not a cruise ship of any sort. Instead, it has its two main missions when at sea. One is to conduct training campaigns for its cadets who are honed by Italy's Naval Academy. And second is to successfully and honorably show the flag across maritime shores, maintaining a national diplomacy with other countries.

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2024-09-16T12:15:10Z dg43tfdfdgfd