The Vespa is one such thing. Born in 1946, in Pontedera, drawn by Corradino D'Ascanio — who, in truth, had no love for motorcycles. Slender, curved, no oil on the trouser legs. A hum that lent it a wasp's name. Eighty years on, it has become no mere vehicle, but a cherished object.

And in 2026 it returns to where it always looked most beautiful: to Rome.

From 25 to 28 June, the Eternal City becomes a stage. *Vespa Roma 2026 – 80 Years of an Icon* is, according to Piaggio, the largest celebration in the brand's history: tens of thousands of Vespisti, clubs from forty-eight nations, four days in which a way of life takes possession of the city. Admission free. For the Vespa belongs to everyone.

The heart beats at the Foro Italico. The Stadio dei Marmi, ringed by its marble figures, becomes the Vespa Village — workshop of memory and showcase of the future at once. Rare historical models stand beside the current range, beside fashion and a store world of its own. Past and present park side by side, as though time were merely a question of paintwork.

Giornale di Viaggio

Eighty Summers on Two Wheels

In Palladio’s footsteps