BARCOLANA
SPECIAL EDITION

The city of Trieste will have the honor of being the first Italian city to welcome the arrival of the tallship Amerigo Vespucci at the end of its extraordinary 2023-2025 World Tour. On this occasion, Barcolana will organize an entire weekend of celebrations, the Barcolana Special Edition, to commemorate the entry of the "most beautiful ship in the world" into national waters.

The Barcolana Special Edition, taking place from February 28 to March 2, 2025, will transform the Gulf and the city of Trieste into a grand stage. At sea, a spectacular Barcolana Boat Parade will welcome the Amerigo Vespucci upon her arrival, while numerous events on land will offer participants and visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of seafaring and the special bond between Trieste and the Tallship.

The Boat Parade, that will take place on Saturday, March 1, is a non-competitive, free event open to all types of boats—from sailboats and dinghies to motorboats, inflatables, SUPs, canoes, and kayaks. The boats will be divided into two categories with dedicated sailing courses according to their type: sailboats, inflatables, and motorboats will depart at 1:00 PM near the Barcolana starting buoy, sailing at approximately 4 knots to meet the Vespucci in the center of the Gulf and escorting her towards Bacino San Giusto, near the Barcolana finish line. Rowing boats, paddles, SUPs, and sailing dinghies will depart at 2:00 PM from the green beacon of the Old Port breakwater, concluding their parade at the Bacino San Giorgio, where they will await the ship's arrival. Together, all sea lovers will have the unique opportunity to sail alongside the Amerigo Vespucci and celebrate the grand return of the world's most beautiful and beloved tallship to Italy.

Participation in the Boat Parade is free, but registration is required—also to receive, in true Barcolana fashion, event souvenirs and a special Gran Pavese flag to display while sailing. Those who register will also receive a “Certificate of Participation,” symbolizing their connection with the Vespucci.

Registrations will open on Monday, February 10, on the website specialedition.barcolana.it, and from February 25 to 28, it will also be possible to register in person at the headquarters of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, where participants can collect the Gran Pavese flag for sail and motorboats or a bib for those on rowing boats, SUPs, and paddles. For rowing boats and SUPs, SVBG will also provide a launch and haul-out area at Molo Zero in the Old Port.

The event will also feature two special prizes: one for the sports club registering the highest number of crews in the parade, and a more lighthearted award for the crew that best embodies the spirit of the ship’s arrival in a carnival-themed fashion, as the Vespucci’s arrival coincides with Carnival Saturday. All information can be found on the Barcolana website under the Special Edition section in the "Parade Instructions."

Trieste marks the beginning of the Amerigo Vespucci’s Mediterranean tour along the Italian coastline, also stopping at two foreign ports, before concluding in Genoa on June 10, 2025, for Navy Day. The Barcolana Special Edition and Boat Parade are organized by Barcolana in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense and Difesa Servizi SpA—the Ministry’s in-house company responsible for supporting all phases of the Vespucci Tour and the Villaggio Italia—as well as Rai, which has granted the Main Media Partnership to Barcolana Special Edition and Barcolana 57.

The "Vespucci 2023-2025 World Tour" project, promoted by the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto and supported by twelve ministries and the Presidency of the Council, has seen the Vespucci visit major ports worldwide, combining training, naval diplomacy, and the promotion of Made in Italy excellence through Villaggio Italia, a traveling multi-year mini-expo showcasing Italian excellence.

For full details on the Vespucci’s World and Mediterranean Tours, access times, and reservations to visit the ship, visit the official website www.tourvespucci.it or follow the official "Tour Vespucci" social media profiles.