Thousands of riders from around the world paraded through Rome on Saturday to celebrate Vespa’s 80th birthday.
Roberto Gualtieri, mayor of the Italian capital, said, “The history of the Vespa, which is linked with the birth and rise of Italy after the Second World War, is in a way an iconic symbol of our history, our culture.”
Designed as an economical means of transportation, the Vespa, meaning “wasp” in Italian, was launched in 1946 by Piaggio, a major aircraft manufacturer.
“It symbolizes Italy emerging from the war and getting back on its feet,” Gualtieri said.
Popularity of Vespa in Movies
Gualtieri said, “Telling the story of 80 years of Vespa is, in part, telling the story of how Rome has managed to capture the world’s imagination,” especially through cinema.
Vespas were featured in classic cinema such as the 1953 romantic comedy “Roman Holiday” and the 1960 drama “La Dolce Vita.”
The iconic scooter has also appeared in other films, including “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and the recent animated “Luca.”
Four-day Vespa Festival in Rome
The four-day festival began on Thursday with the opening of a “Vespa Village” at the Foro Italico in northern Rome.
It culminated on Saturday with thousands of drivers taking to the streets of Rome.
Vespa has been in continuous production for 80 years and is now sold in almost 100 countries.
Matteo Colaninno, Executive Chairman of the Piaggio Group, said, “Today, Vespa has become a global phenomenon; we are on the verge of producing 20 million vehicles since 1946.”
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
Don’t let algorithms hide news. If you rely on our team for reliable reporting, please take a moment Select us as your favorite source on Google by clicking here and pressing the “Star” or “Favorite” buttonThat’s why you’ll always see our verified news first.