FROM 18 TO 21 APRIL, THE WORLD'S LARGEST GATHERING OF VESPA CLUBS WILL ENLIVEN THE BEAUTIFUL BIRTHPLACE OF THE VESPA. A "FOUR DAYS" OF EVENTS INVOLVING PONTEDERA AND MORE THAN TWENTY MUNICIPALITIES OF THE VALDERA AND THE LANDS OF PISA AREAS. 8,000 VESPISTS REPRESENTING OVER 600 VESPA CLUBS FROM 54 COUNTRIES, WHO WILL BE JOINED BY THOUSANDS OF ENTHUSIASTS. RECORD ATTENDANCE EXPECTED. THE PROGRAM OF EVENTS IS RICH: OVER ONE HUNDRED EVENTS BETWEEN CULTURE, FOOD AND WINE, AND ITALIAN EXCELLENCE. CELEBRATING ALSO THE 140TH ANNIVERSARY OF PIAGGIO COMPANY AND THE 100 YEARS OF ITS PLANTS IN PONTEDERA
Image source, info and updates: www.facebook.com/VespaWorldDays
Pontedera (Pisa, Italy), 28 March 2024 - The 2024 Vespa World Days, the annual gathering of national Vespa Clubs from across the globe, will take place from 18 to 21 April in Pontedera, the birthplace of the Vespa and its manufacturing home since 1946. Eight thousand Vespisti representing 54 countries and over 660 Vespa Clubs from five continents enrolled for the event in just five days. Three thousand of these within the first hour of the booking window opening! Thousands more Vespa onlookers and sympathisers eager to discover the Terre di Pisa in the saddle of their cherished Vespas will join them.
“We are set to host an international event that will attract thousands of visitors, promising an extraordinary effect on the whole area,” remarked Matteo Franconi, Mayor of Pontedera. “This is an important recognition for the town of Pontedera, the entire area and the community. It is a recognition that pays tribute to a brand that has written the history of Pontedera, to a business present with its factory for one hundred years, to all the men and women who have worked at Piaggio, contributing to the creation and development of a true myth, and at the same time it is the crowning achievement of a journey that the Vespa Club Pontedera has made over the years, with the many initiatives promoted over time that have brought us here.”
Press conference to present the event at Palazzo Stefanelli (Municipality of Pontedera), 28 March 2024, with the Mayor Matteo Franconi, the organizing committee and Vespa Club Pontedera.
Source of images: www.facebook.com/ComunediPontedera
In the mayor's words, the essence of the event: an event spread in time and space, a gathering that seeks to present Tuscany's excellencies to the world, a meeting for aficionados, groups of friends, and families who share a love of the Vespa. It will be an event for the local area, under the patronage of the Region of Tuscany and Terre di Pisa. Besides Pontedera, it will also involve 20 other municipalities in the Valdera area; and will be fully included in the ‘Italian Motor Week 2024’ programme, as the Vespa's hometown is a cornerstone of the ANCI Motor City Circuit.
THE PROGRAMME. The programme, continually updated on the www.vespaworldclub.org website, kicks off at 11 am on Thursday, 18 April, at Vespa Village, the beating heart of the event, the market-exhibition area set up in Pontedera's Piazza del Mercato (Market Place). Here, until Sunday at 4 pm, a food & beverage area along with various exhibition stands will provide Vespa participants and guests the opportunity to mingle in the authentic spirit of the Vespa Clubs. Within Vespa Village, attendees will also have the chance to test-ride Piaggio vehicles and obtain one of 250 limited-edition certificates of origin, specially issued for the event.
Vespa World Days in Pontedera is a special edition, not least because it will celebrate the 140th anniversary of Piaggio's establishment in 1884 and the centenary of the iconic Pontedera plant.
Vespa plant, Piaggio Pontedera, 1950.
The Piaggio Museum will hold an exhibition on this theme. This captivating venue, safeguarding the historic legacy of Vespa and Piaggio, will be another highlight of the event. Open to guests and visitors, it offers 18 tour slots, already reserved for weeks, to explore the over 5,000 square metres of the updated exhibit and the 'Vespa all over the World' show.
PIAGGIO MUSEUM: www.museopiaggio.it/en www.museopiaggio.it/en/blog/1-news/81-entry-methods-to-the-piaggio-museum-in-vespa-world-days
The auditorium at the Piaggio Museum will also be the venue for Meet & Greet sessions, offering participants a unique opportunity to learn about the origins and development of their beloved 'two-wheelers' directly from those involved in their design and testing.
Viale Rinaldo Piaggio will host the Tuscan Excellencies market, organised in partnership with the Biodistrict, CIA, Coldiretti, and a network of small-scale producers from the quality food sector. During the event, from 9 am to 7 pm (except for Friday, when the hours are 9 am to 5 pm), the venue will give Vespa aficionados and visitors the chance to taste the unique flavours of the Terre di Pisa.
On Saturday 20 and Sunday 21, the Piaggio factory, the cradle of Vespa since its inception in 1946, will welcome Vespisti with 128 circuits of special tours aboard comfortable trains. Throughout the Vespa World Days, the boutique in Piazza Martiri della Libertà will open its doors, presenting the new Vespa apparel capsule collection to the public.
REWIND – VESPA DAY 2023 – PARADE OF VESPISTS FROM THE PIAGGIO MUSEUM.
WIDE VIDEO.
The Piaggio Village area, initially developed in the 1950s for workers’ housing, will be featured and incorporated into the Urban Street Art route. The Municipality of Pontedera, in collaboration with the Pontedera Foundation for Culture, has crafted this initiative, creating a rich programme of cultural events and exhibitions.
In addition to the 'Pontedera in Vespa' photo exhibition curated by the CREC Piaggio photography section and the skate area hosting a freestyle contest on Saturday afternoon, there will also be live painting sessions conducted by Nico Lopez Bruchi. The designer is also a highlight of the 'VespArt' exhibition at PALP, together with Skim, David Pompili and Paolo Amico, an artist who will also hold live sessions in Piazza Cavour, painting with a Vespa tyre.
wide.piaggiogroup.com/en/articles/events/vespart-the-exhibit-that-pays-tribute-to-queen-vespa
There will be more art at the Il Germoglio Gallery, with an exhibition on the Pontedera artist Babb, and at the Sete Sois Sete Luas centre, which will display international pieces associated with the renowned festival circuit. Piccolo Teatro Digitale (Little Digital Theatre) will host the exhibition 'Ars Mechanica, art meets mechanics' curated by Beatrice De Laurentiis. The Modartech institute will pay tribute to the extensive industrial legacy of the Piaggio Group. Concurrently, the Era Theatre will present a diverse cultural programme, featuring a chat show on 'I Mitici Vespisti' (The Mythical Vespisti). Here, esteemed Italian and international Vespisti like Giuseppe Cau and Luigi Frisinghelli will share personal anecdotes of life astride a Vespa. These sessions will alternate with accounts from former test-riders, now distinguished members of the Vespa Club Pontedera, led by Gianfranco Gemmi. The theatrical performance 'Voices of a Community' presented by the Accademia dell'Incompiuto (Academy of the Unfulfilled) represents an additional contribution from local associations to the VWD. The multiplex cinema Cineplex will showcase three cinematic masterpieces that have become part of Vespa's history: the Disney-Pixar production Luca, the legendary Roman Holiday and the TV drama, Enrico Piaggio, an Italian dream.
DISNEY AND PIXAR’S LUCA | OFFICIAL TRAILER | DISNEY+
The Gallery spaces will feature a photographic exhibition on the Vespa World Days, curated by Simone Borghini. Additionally, on the morning of Friday 19th, there will be a screening of the short movie 'Sulle Ali della Vespa' (On the Wings of the Vespa), directed by the renowned actor Renato Raimo and produced in collaboration with various Pontedera schools.
wide.piaggiogroup.com/en/articles/events/happy-70th-birthday-roman-holiday
In addition to the numerous initiatives by local residents and shopkeepers, a diverse array of events will be offered. Through the support of Confcommercio, Confesercenti, We are Pontedera, and ViviLari, shops and commercial businesses have joined the 'Vespizziamo Pontedera e Casciana Terme – Lari' engagement campaign. This initiative will dress the town's shop windows in the colours of the Vespa World Days. The centre of Pontedera will also host two highly anticipated musical events: a concert by the Fanfara dei Carabinieri, and on the evening of Friday, 20th, an event in the Piazzone with performances by Cricca and the Street Clerks in Pontedera. The broadcaster will feature a DJ set on the evening of Saturday 20, specially dedicated to Vespisti, following the award ceremonies for the Vespa Trophy and the Popoli-Pontedera.
However, Saturday will, above all, be the day of the big Parade, the highlight of the Vespa World Days 2024. Thousands of Vespisti, astride Vespas of all eras, will form a vibrant and jubilant procession, snaking from Viale Italia, at the core of Pontedera, towards Peccioli, passing through the hills that inspired Corradino d'Ascanio, along the most scenic of routes. The Fanfara dei Bersaglieri is also eagerly waited for Saturday when the public will be treated to two cameos at Vespa Village. Thursday's opening will be graced by the music of Pontedera's Volere è Potere Philharmonic Orchestra. The Vespisti will bid farewell in true Italian style, accompanied by the floral artistry of the AFFI - Italian Association of Floriculturists and Florists, the delectable sweets prepared by Chef Luca Montersino, and the effervescent Chin8 Neri beverage.
Riccardo Costagliola, President of Vespa World Club, and President of the Piaggio Foundation, is clearly pleased: “The figures speak volumes about this event. Fifty-four countries from five continents will be represented in Pontedera. An extraordinary figure compounded by the fact that all 8,000 bookable places were sold out within days. The presence of Vespisti and enthusiasts promises to be truly exceptional. However, this edition will also be especially rich in content and events. The Vespa World Club, the international federation comprising no fewer than 66 national Vespa Clubs, was keen to have all three pillars of Vespismo represented this year: Tourism, Sport and the Historical Register. The Vespa Historical Register will enable the fascinating Concours d'Elegance on Saturday at 3.30 pm, a pageant for Vespas registered between 1946 and 1970, which, along with the clothing of their riders, will rekindle the charm of bygone days.
vespaworldclub.org/vespa-rally
vespaworldclub.org/vespa-trophy-2024
Sport will take centre stage with the Gymkhana World Cup and the Italian leg of the Vespa Rally European Championship. These skills events strengthen the bond between rider and vehicle and, thanks to the instructors of the Vespa Club d'Italia, will bring Italian and foreign novices closer to the world of Vespa regularity trials.”
VESPA TROPHY 2024
www.facebook.com/vespatrophy
THE ORGANISATIONAL MACHINERY.An operations centre housed in the Cineplex premises, dozens of volunteers from the National Association of Carabinieri, the National Association of Italian Financial Police, as well as 140 men and women from the ANPS – the National Association of State Police, 200 volunteers, 60 motorbike relays and a team of professionals are working tirelessly to offer Vespisti a true 'Tuscany Experience' in total safety, alongside the technical meetings duly convened by the Municipal Administration.
Eugenio Leone, director of the organizing committee and vice president of Vespa Club Pontedera, proudly commented: “An impressive organisational machine for what can be considered our Olympics. The town has responded with great enthusiasm, as have the Vespa Clubs in Tuscany with whom we work.”
Images from the Vespa World Days 2023, Interlaken, Swisse: www.facebook.com/VWDSuisse2021
Many areas, urban and suburban, will be involved in the event, some with installations already visible, with roundabouts decorated with light installations and adorned with precious three-dimensional sculptures. Green areas will provide space for hundreds of campers and entire car parks for motor homes, as well as alternative accommodation solutions to the over 20,000 rooms booked in the hotel and non-hotel circuit. Special services allow for the inclusive participation of people with disabilities, who will enjoy tailor-made itineraries with the support of the associations ASHA of Pisa and the IN of Livorno. The event has received the Eco-Action certification from Legambiente due to the sustainability measures incorporated into its planning. This includes the partnership with Banco Alimentare, through which the food prepared but not served will be donated to the Mercy of Pontedera and redistributed throughout the municipality.
There has been an excellent response not only from non-profit operators but also the entire production and tourism sector in the area: from Calci Natural History Museum to Casciana spa, from Amedei chocolate factory, which will offer a sweet welcome to all Vespisti and open its doors for exclusive tastings, to guided tours by the historian Michele Quirici, from flying in the helicopters of Florence Helicopter to cycling in the hills with Eco-Rent, from lunch at the Resort Laqua of the Cannavacciuolo family, to offers developed with Visit Terre di Pisa and Visit Valdera tourism office for discovering the area. Over 30 tourist offers have been prepared for the four days, besides the Vespa tours that will cross the Valdera, with small groups of about 100 Vespa riders discovering the Terre di Pisa.
TERRE DI PISA:
www.terredipisa.it
www.terredipisa.it/events/raduno-vespa-pontedera
Vespa World Days. The Vespa World Days are a celebration of the eternal Vespa legend. A vehicle that has now transcended its function as an easy and elegant vehicle for everyday commuting to become a global icon of Italian style, loved by entire generations. Vespa and the love of its fans were practically born together, so much that many owners, as early as 1946, the year the most famous scooter in the world was born, formed associations: that's how the first Vespa Clubs were born.
Memories: the Vespa Club of Britain at the EuroVespa 1961, Salzburg (Austria).
The desire of Vespa clubs for a big get-together to celebrate their passion took shape in 1954 with the great International Gathering in Paris. Now, Pontedera is set to commemorate the 70th anniversary of EuroVespa's inception. In 2007, this great event was renamed Vespa World Days to emphasise its global spirit. Today, there are 66 National Vespa Clubs associated with the Vespa World Club, spanning five continents.
(Source: Vespa World Days 2024 organizational committee press release).
ROAD TO PONTEDERA:
www.vespa.com/en_EN/landing-page/aftersales-vwd-pre-check-up
