Amerigo Vespucci is a 93-year-old ship which is now a part of the Italian Navy 

The Amerigo Vespucci has stunning interiors, which have been preserved to reflect its nearly century-old elegance

The iconic ship has been docked at Indira Dock in Mumbai from November 26 to December 2 as part of its global tour

The ship, under the command of Captain Giuseppe Lai, embarked on its journey from Italy in July 2023 and is scheduled to visit over 30 ports worldwide before returning in February 2025

During its stay in Mumbai, Captain Lai met with Rear Admiral Rahul Vilas Gokhale, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, to exchange insights on the significance of sail training in both navies and share experiences from the ship’s current voyage

A highlight of the ship’s visit is the `Villaggio Italia (Italian Village),` set up near the ship’s berth at Indira Dock. This cultural exhibition showcases Italy’s art, heritage, and traditions, offering visitors a glimpse into the rich culture of the European maritime nation 

Lieutenant Alessandro talks about the ship`s journey 

Apart from providing training to naval cadets, Amerigo Vespucci plays an important role in supporting Italy`s diplomacy

Vice-Admiral Antonio Natale, Commander Naval Personnel Education of the Italian Navy, is also on a visit to Mumbai

India and Italy are looking to enhance interoperability and cooperation in the maritime domain

Artists Subhash Bathe and Captain Prafulla Udaykar craft an artwork inspired by Villaggio Italia

Meanwhile, speaking on the sidelines of Amerigo Vespucci`s call on Mumbai port and the Villaggio Italia exposition arranged to coincide with it, senior Italian minister Adolfo Urso said `new geopolitical events` make it necessary to consolidate the lines of communication between the two countries

Visitors click pictures on the ship

He also stressed the need to take India-Italy ties beyond commerce, and pitched for greater cooperation in other areas such as scientific advancement, technology and industrial production