Italian training ship Amerigo Vespucci sails to New York for U.S. Independence Day celebrations

The Italian Navy’s training ship Amerigo Vespucci arrived in New York on 2 July and took part in the July 4 parade that marks the 250th anniversary of the United States’ Declaration of Independence. The vessel, hailed as the “Lady of the Seas,” was moored at Pier 86 from 4 to 8 July, sailing past the Statue of Liberty alongside dozens of tall ships and military vessels.

Among the 167 cadets on board was 22‑year‑old Mario Agus from Augusta, Italy, who is completing a North‑American training deployment that began earlier in the year. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the ship’s presence “symbolises the historic bond between Italy and the United States” and paid tribute to the millions of Italian‑Americans and the shared military history of the two nations.