This coming weekend, Pontedera, birthplace and production location of Vespa since 1946, will host the Vespa World Days. This world-famous Vespa rally is about to host one of its biggest editions ever in its seventy-year history. The first edition took place in 1954 in Paris.
Fans from thousands of Vespa Clubs (660 in Italy alone) will gather from all over the world. The eight thousand places for the parade – the highlight of the event – were sold out in no time.
During the Vespa World Days, the Piaggio Museum in Pontedera celebrates 140 years of Piaggio with a major exhibition called “Vespa all over the world”. This tells the story of Vespa’s global spread and early internationalization between the late 1940s and ’60s.
The museum will also serve as a location for the Meet & Greet events for Vespa fans. Here you can hear from those responsible for the design and production of this icon about the history and origins of the Vespa. On Saturday April 20 and Sunday April 21, the Piaggio factory, where the Vespa was born, will be open to the public.
The ‘Vespa Village’ also houses a technical support area and an official parts store. Test drives will also take place here and 250 limited edition certificates will be awarded for the event.
Not to be forgotten is the Concorso di Eleganza on Saturday, one of the most anticipated events of the Vespa World Days. On Sunday April 21, the Vespa Village will also host the awards ceremony for the winners of the Vespa Trophy, where Vespa Club members will compete while recording all the stages of their journey to Pontedera with photos and stamps in their Travel Book.
Furthermore, the entire city of Pontedera will present itself as an ideal location for the grand festivities dedicated to Vespa; from photography to art exhibitions and a film festival where three of the most famous films starring the Vespa will be shown: Luca, Roman Holiday and Enrico Piaggio.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.