The "Villaggio Italia" exhibition, an international showcase of Italian products, opened today at Old Doha Port and will run until December 22.
The exhibition is part of the global tour of the historic sailing ship "Amerigo Vespucci," a training vessel of the Italian Navy.
The "Amerigo Vespucci" will remain at Old Doha Port until December 22, marking Doha as the 30th stop on its global tour that started from Italy on July 1, 2023.
In his opening speech, HE Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the State of Qatar, Paolo Toschi, highlighted that the arrival of the "Amerigo Vespucci" in Qatar is its first in the Middle East, expressing gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this event.
His Excellency said that Qatar contributes to enhancing dialogue and promoting peace in the world and the arrival of the 'Amerigo Vespucci' carries the meanings of dialogue, peace, and friendship that the Italian Republic wishes to convey to the State of Qatar. It also symbolizes their friendship and honors Qatar as a partner and friend, he added.
His Excellency pointed out four themes carried by the "Amerigo Vespucci" to Doha: peace and dialogue, with the ship traveling the world for two years carrying a message of friendship and cooperation; education, as the ship has been training young people for several decades, emphasizing the importance of education for both countries in preparing the next generation; the environment, as the "Amerigo Vespucci" studies the oceans; and social inclusion, as the ship welcomes everyone without discrimination.
His Excellency said that Qatar and Italy are always working to promote these four themes, affirming that the Italian Republic will collaborate with Qatar through these shared values that unite them.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), CEO of Old Doha Port, Mohammed Abdullah Al Mulla, expressed pride to host the historic 'Amerigo Vespucci' and 'Villaggio Italia' exhibition at Old Doha Port for the first time in Qatar, coinciding with the National Day celebrations.
He noted that the historic ship's docking at Old Doha Port reflects the port's strategy to utilize Qatar's maritime heritage infrastructure.
The CEO of Old Doha Port emphasized that this historic visit highlights the deep relations between Qatar and Italy, offering visitors a unique opportunity to board the ship and experience its rich heritage up close.
Regarding the "Villaggio Italia" exhibition, he said that the exhibition offers visitors a unique experience to explore a variety of cultural activities, including music and art performances, and authentic Italian culinary experiences. Old Doha Port remains committed to its mission of preserving maritime traditions and building bridges of communication between Qatar and the rest of the world, he added.
Italian Undersecretary of State for Defence Matteo Perego di Cremnago noted during the inauguration that the "Amerigo Vespucci" represents Italian identity and arrives in Doha after sailing 40,000 miles on its global tour.
He pointed out that Qatar is a friend and strategic partner to his country as they share interests in maintaining peace and pursuing stability in the world, adding that they play a key role in resolving contemporary international conflicts.
He explained that the "Amerigo Vespucci," in this era of crises, carries the values of Italian history, culture, design, industry, and the Italian Navy's values of defense, bringing a message of peace to the world.
Luca Andreoli, CEO of Difesa Servizi, a subsidiary of the Italian Ministry of Defense, added that Italy has a strong friendship with Qatar, evident through this event. 'Villaggio Italia' has toured the world from Los Angeles and Tokyo to Mumbai, and this exhibition in Doha is among the best, he added.
He noted that the "Amerigo Vespucci" has hosted over 300,000 visitors since the start of its global tour, with more than 250 million online followers and 70 million social media interactions.
He said that this tour brings Italy's beauty around the world, becoming a meeting place for cultures and peoples, which is their proudest achievement. The journey continues from Doha to other ports in the Middle East and then the Mediterranean, he noted.
The "Amerigo Vespucci" and "Villaggio Italia" exhibition will be open to the public free of charge, with pre-registration available on the event's website. The exhibition will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and will close on Sunday, December 22, at noon after the ship departs.
The exhibition features musical performances, an exclusive art space by Italian artist Jago (Jacopo Cardillo), art lectures, film screenings, and Italian food tasting sessions.
Visits to the "Amerigo Vespucci" will be available to the public from Wednesday, December 18 to Saturday, December 21, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., except on Friday when visits will end at 5 p.m
