Amerigo Vespucci in Venice 2026: Programme, Visiting Hours & Live Webcam

In brief: The Marina Militare’s sail training ship Amerigo Vespucci has been moored since October 2, 2026, and remains until October 7, at the Riva San Biasio in the Castello district, in front of the Museo Storico Navale — just a few steps from the spot where the live webcam at the Bacino di San Marco films. The free on-board visits on October 2, 3 and 4 are already fully booked; on October 6 and 7 the international naval symposium Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium also convenes at the Arsenale. On October 8 the ship sets sail for Trieste.

Amerigo Vespucci in Venice at a Glance

Key facts about the Venice stopover
Point	Details
Ship	Amerigo Vespucci, sail training ship of the Marina Militare (Italian Navy)
Stay in Venice	October 2 to 7, 2026 (entered the lagoon as early as the afternoon of October 1)
Berth	Riva San Biasio, Castello district, in front of the Museo Storico Navale
On-board visits	October 2, 3 and 4, 2:00–7:00 pm (last entry 6:30 pm) — free, online reservation only, already fully booked
Special event	October 4: water parade and the city’s “alzaremi” salute in the Bacino di San Marco
Additional occasion	October 6–7: 15th Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium at the Arsenale
Onward journey	October 8 towards Trieste, where it joins the events around the 58th Barcolana

Program: Arrival, On-Board Visits, Water Parade and Symposium

The Vespucci entered the lagoon on the afternoon of October 1 and moored at the Riva San Biasio — directly in front of the Museo Storico Navale, the city’s naval museum. The free visiting days are concentrated on three afternoons: October 2, 3 and 4, each from 2 to 7 pm with last admission at 6:30 pm. Places were allocated exclusively through the official Tour Vespucci reservation portal and were already fully booked before the period even began.

On Sunday, October 4, Venice also welcomes the ship with a traditional water procession: boats gather at 10:15 am at Punta della Dogana, departing at 10:30 am and arriving in the Riva San Biasio area around 11 am. This is followed by the traditional “alzaremi alla voce” (the ceremonial raising of oars on command), then the Inno di Mameli (Italian national anthem) and the Inno di San Marco, with the crew and commander lined up on deck.

The stay also coincides with an international professional event: on October 6 and 7, the Italian Navy hosts the 15th edition of the Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium (T-RSS) at the Arsenale — a forum on naval cooperation held every two years since 1996, expected to draw representatives from around 70 foreign navies as well as from academia and industry. The theme for 2026: “From Regional Waters to Global Influence.” The Vespucci therefore remains in Venice until October 7, before continuing on October 8 towards Trieste, where it becomes part of the events surrounding the 58th Barcolana regatta — the final leg of this year’s “Campagna Nord America 2026.”

On-Board Visits: Fully Booked, but with Fixed Rules

Access on board is free of charge in principle, but possible only through a named online reservation on the official site tourvespucci.it — a maximum of four people per booking, no changes to the time slot or registered names after booking, no wheelchair ramps on board (the ship predates such requirements), and strollers must be left on the quay. In Venice, all slots for October 2 to 4 were fully booked before the official start; according to the Marina Militare, no other providers or channels are authorized to take bookings. Anyone unable to visit the Vespucci in Venice can still see the ship from the Riva San Biasio or from the opposite side of the Bacino for as long as it remains moored.

Where Is the Vespucci Moored – and Can I See It on the Webcam?

The mooring in front of the Museo Storico Navale sits on the same Riva San Biasio where the live San Marco Basin webcam (page in German) is installed — the camera is positioned at B&B La Rosa dei Venti / Porta da Mar, a little further along towards the Arsenale. From there the webcam looks across the basin towards San Giorgio Maggiore, with St Mark’s bell tower at the right edge of the frame. Since the camera and the ship sit on the same embankment, it’s worth checking the stream for masts or rigging from the Vespucci at the edge of the frame or in the distance — whether the ship falls exactly within the shot depends on the precise distance between the camera position and the mooring, and can shift slightly with docking manoeuvres. Anyone who wants certainty has, right there along Riva San Biasio in either direction, an unobstructed view of the mooring, without the crowds typical of St Mark’s Square.

→ To the live webcam at Bacino di San Marco

What Is the Amerigo Vespucci?

The Amerigo Vespucci was launched on February 22, 1931 in Castellammare di Stabia, designed by the engineer Francesco Rotundi. The sail training ship is 101 meters long, carries three masts with square sails and a bowsprit, and can set up to 26 sails. It is the oldest still-active ship in the Italian Navy and continues to serve today as a training vessel for officer cadets of the Livorno Naval Academy.

The ship earned its unofficial nickname “la nave più bella del mondo” (the most beautiful ship in the world) in 1962: during an encounter with the US aircraft carrier USS Independence in the Mediterranean, the American crew radioed “Chi siete?” (Who are you?) — the reply, “Nave scuola Amerigo Vespucci, Marina Militare Italiana,” was answered by the Americans with “Siete la più bella nave del mondo.” The phrase has been part of the ship’s history ever since and is still used by the Marina Militare in its public communications today.

Video Impressions of the Amerigo Vespucci in Venice

A moving-image impression of the ship entering the lagoon, mooring at Riva San Biasio, and the water procession on October 4:

Amerigo Vespucci in Venedig – Video-Impression 1

Amerigo Vespucci in Venedig – Video-Impression 2

Amerigo Vespucci in Venedig – Video-Impression 3

Amerigo Vespucci in Venedig – Video-Impression 4

Frequently Asked Questions About the Amerigo Vespucci’s Visit to Venice

Can I still visit the Vespucci?

On-board visits take place only on October 2, 3 and 4 and were already fully booked before they began. The ship itself remains moored at the Riva San Biasio until October 7 and can be freely viewed from the outside.

Where exactly is the ship moored?

At the Riva San Biasio in the Castello district, directly in front of the Museo Storico Navale — between Riva degli Schiavoni/San Zaccaria and the Arsenale.

Can I see the Vespucci live on the webcam?

The live webcam at the Bacino di San Marco is also located on the Riva San Biasio, just a little further towards the Arsenale. Depending on the exact distance to the mooring, masts or rigging may be visible in the shot or at its edge — there’s no guarantee of this, however, since the camera angle faces towards San Giorgio Maggiore. → To the webcam (page in German)

When and where does the Vespucci continue on to?

On October 8 the ship sets sail for Trieste, where it becomes part of the events surrounding the 58th Barcolana regatta — the final leg of the Campagna Nord America 2026.

What takes place at the Arsenale on October 6 and 7?

The Italian Navy hosts the 15th edition of the Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium there, an international professional forum on cooperation between navies with representatives from around 70 countries. This event is not open to the public.

Amerigo Vespucci in Venice: Italian Navy Tall Ship Docked Until October 7 at Bacino di San Marco – Program and Live Webcam