Thousands of Vespas swarm Rome’s historic center to mark iconic scooter’s 80th anniversary

Thousands of Vespas filled Rome's historic center on Saturday, with over 10,000 of the iconic scooters converging to mark the 80th anniversary of their creation. Enthusiasts traveled from across the globe, with attendees hailing from continental Europe, England, San Francisco, Australia, and the Philippines, all drawn to the Eternal City to celebrate a brand they consider timeless.

The celebration saw the beloved Vespa momentarily overshadowing Italian sports car brands like Ferrari and Ducati. For many, the scooter represents more than just transportation; it embodies "Italian style, freedom, the '60s," as described by Natalie Dunand, a retiree from France attending the event on her 61st birthday.

Originally made world-famous by the 1953 film "Roman Holiday," where Gregory Peck famously gave Audrey Hepburn a ride through Rome, the Vespa has since appeared in numerous other films. Its curved design evokes a past era, and its ability to elicit smiles from onlookers has made it a symbol of two-wheeled transport, much like the Volkswagen Beetle is for cars.

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The passion for Vespa is for the Italian style, freedom, the ’60s. I love it.

The invention of the Vespa was a response to the post-World War II era. Piaggio, a major aircraft manufacturer whose factory was destroyed in the war, had to shift its production. The company began manufacturing scooters, initially targeting women who could ride them easily while wearing skirts. This design philosophy, emphasizing "the shape, the elegance" and a "very charming attitude," was intended to appeal to a female audience, according to Davide Zanolini, Piaggio's executive vice president of marketing.

The scooter played a role in kickstarting Italy's economy, becoming ubiquitous. An Associated Press article from 1950 noted that the "staccato exhaust racket" of Vespas made downtown Rome sound like the Indy 500, and that their prevalence impressed American visitors as much as historical landmarks. The scooters' agility also taught pedestrians to be extra vigilant at street crossings.

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The shape, the elegance. This very charming attitude of Vespa is much more of a lady than a man.