The de facto symbol of Italian life – the Vespa – celebrated its 60th birthday today. The manufacturer unveiled three new models and plans for a Vespa museum – a brilliant idea! According to ANSA, “the Vespa’s actual birthday was April 23, the day in 1946 when the patent for the innovative two-wheeler was registered in Florence by Piaggio & Co .” More than 16 million Vespa scooters have been sold over the past six decades. If you’re anything like me, once I return from a trip to Italy – Rome, especially – I miss the hum of the everpresnt hum of Vespas zooming to and fro.
