Tall ship to embark on ‘Made in Italy’ world tour to promote national identity

Giorgia Meloni's rightwing government puts food and wine at heart of its nationalistic expression

A tall ship named after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci will embark on a two-year voyage as Italy's conservative government puts the promotion of the country's food and wine at the heart of its nationalistic expression of Italian identity.

The navy vessel, built in 1930 and described as the most beautiful ship in the world", will set sail on 1 July to bring Made in Italy and the excellence of our country to the world", according to the defence minister, Guido Crosetto.