The severe heatwave sweeping across Europe did not stop thousands of Vespa riders from gathering in the heart of Rome to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the iconic scooter, a machine that has travelled through generations and become a symbol of Italian style.
The late Hollywood star Audrey Hepburn helped turn the Vespa into a global icon. In the 1953 classic Roman Holiday, her scenes riding through Rome behind Gregory Peck gave the scooter an irresistible sense of romance and freedom, sending its popularity soaring.
Vespa lovers came to the Italian capital from every corner of the world. The Associated Press spotted riders from across Europe, northern England, San Francisco, Australia’s Gold Coast and the Philippines. Together, they turned the cobbled streets of the Eternal City into a moving celebration of a brand that is no longer just a way to get around, but a lasting cultural icon.
The riders cruised through central Rome, including streets usually closed to private vehicles. Some braved the heat in full motorcycle jackets, while others kept things simple in light shirts, according to AFP.
Vespa, which means “wasp” in Italian, a nod to the buzzing sound of its early engine, was born on April 23, 1946, when Piaggio registered its first patent for the scooter in Italy. Production has continued ever since, especially at the company’s Pontedera factory in Tuscany.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also paid tribute to the scooter after being photographed sitting on a white Vespa inside her official residence. She described it as “an outstanding industrial achievement” and “one of Italy’s most beloved symbols around the world, representing Italian creativity and style.”
Designed from the start as an affordable vehicle for the masses, the Vespa drew on several innovations from aviation, Piaggio’s original field of expertise. Over time, it became a symbol of social freedom. At the launch of the celebrations, Piaggio Group CEO Matteo Colaninno said its story was deeply tied to that of a country emerging from the postwar years and trying to rebuild itself. The desire to move, he added, was not only about getting from one place to another, but also about economic progress and, above all, social mobility.
Today, Colaninno said, Vespa has become a global phenomenon, with production nearing 20 million scooters since 1946
