Italian navy’s Amerigo Vespucci coming to Darwin

One of the world’s oldest active military vessels is coming to the Top End, with Territorians offered the chance to climb aboard the prestigious ship. See for details.

Italian sailing tall ship Amerigo Vespucci will be coming to Darwin next month. Picture: Supplied.

An iconic Italian military vessel, considered the world’s most beautiful ship, will be pulling into Darwin next month, with Territorian maritime enthusiasts encouraged to jump aboard for a peak.

In October, the Amerigo Vespucci will moor at Fort Hill Wharf as part of its global voyage which will cover 28 countries across five continents.

First launched in 1931, the three-masted sailing ship carries a crew of about 250 personnel and has a top speed of 15 knots.

A full time training ship, the beautiful vessel often conducts navigation training and naval diplomacy, as well as undertaking missions in environmental protection.

The ship is named after Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, for who North America was named after. Picture: Supplied.

The ship’s namesake is the 15th century Italian explorer who took part in the early voyages to the New World and for who the continent of North America is named after.

The highly anticipated arrival of the Amerigo Vespucci follows heightened Italian navy activity in the Indo-Pacific, with aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and ITS Alpino having passed through Darwin in July.

Darwin residents will be the only Australians to have the pleasure of hosting the beautiful ship, with the iconic vessel scheduled to visit Singapore in late October.

Locals will be allowed to board the ship. Picture: Jackson Flindell.

The arrival of the ship comes with a string of events especially arranged for the crew’s stay, with tickets also available to locals who wish to climb aboard the ship and take souvenir photos.

Additionally, there will be several Italian classical music performances ashore, including a concert by maestro Umberto Clerici with 13 elements of the Darwin Symphony Orchestra on October 7.

Amerigo Vespucci will be in Darwin between October 3 and October 7. 2024. For those interested in boarding Amerigo Vespucci, visit https://tourvespucci.it/en/darwin-5-7-october-2024/