The Amerigo Vespucci is a 330 foot three masted frigate built in Naples, Italy in 1931. One of the largest sailing ships in the world today, she is the only three decked square rigger currently in existence. Her impressive appearance is very reminiscent of the sail and steamships-of-line of the 1850s and 60s- complete with a stern walk and an elaborate gilded figurehead and trailboards.

Currently, she is the training ship for the cadet officers of the Leghorn Naval Academy of the Italian Navy (which has kept her in immaculate condition ). Her complement is 303 permanent crew and 105 cadets. This full-rigged ship is named after the Florentine traveler and cartographer (1454-1512) who put his first name on his maps of the new continent discovered by the Genoese navigator Christoforo Colombo. Based in La Spezia, Italy she commissions in June for a short Mediterranean cruise with only her permanent crew on board, and then undertakes a three month voyage ( July to September ) with cadets to North Western Europe and sometimes the Baltic. She makes frequent appearances at Tall Ship festivals such as Sail Amsterdam and the American Sails such as the Columbus Quincentennial in 1992. She will begin the new Millenium by attending Op Sail 2000 where she can be seen at places like Sail Boston 2000.