In 1925, the Regia Marina ordered two school ships to a design by General Lieutenant Francesco Rotundi of the Italian Navy Engineering Corps, inspired by the style of large late 18th century 74-cannon ships of the line (like the Neapolitan ship "Monarca").

 

The first, the Cristoforo Colombo, was put into service in 1928 and was used by the Italian Navy until 1943. After World War II, this ship was handed over to the USSR as part of the war reparations and was shortly afterwards decommissioned.

 

The second ship was the Amerigo Vespucci, built in 1930 at the Naval Shipyard of Castellammare di Stabia (Naples). She was launched on February 22, 1931, and put into service in July of that year. Now its home port is La Spezia, and it is in use as a school ship. Most of her training cruises are in European waters, but she has also sailed to North and South America, navigated the Pacific, and in 2002 also undertook a voyage around the world. 

 

The three steel masts are 50, 54 and 43 metres high, and carry sails totalling 2,824 sq mt (30,400 sq ft). The Amerigo Vespucci has 26 sails: square sails, staysails, and jibs. They all are traditional canvas sails. The rig, some 30 km of ropes, uses only traditional hemp ropes; only the mooring lines are synthetic, to comply with port regulations.

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In 1962, the Amerigo Vespucci was sailing in the Mediterranean when it was crossed by the US aircraft carrier USS Independence.
The US military flashed the vessel asking “Who are you?”
“School ship Amerigo Vespucci, Italian Navy” was the answer.
“You are the most beautiful ship in the world” those from the aircraft carrier replied.