Left, Italian Ambassador Gianclemente De Felice; on the right, Rino Drogo and Marco Fumagalli. Photo: Rudolf Baranovič.
(G.T.), March 2025, Bratislava (Slovakia) – On 12 March 2025 at Bratislava Castle, a symbol of Slovakia, an exhibition opened dedicated to Vespa, organised by the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute, in collaboration with the Slovak National Museum and the Fumagalli di Seregno Collection (Italy).
Photo: Rudolf Baranovič.
The exhibition, entitled “Vespa: a Made in Italy legend”, features a range of historical models on loan from the collection of entrepreneur and collector Marco Fumagalli, who hails from Brianza (Lombardy region, Italy); these include the 1951 125cc Vespa, co-star of the famous film “Roman Holiday”, and a 98cc Vespa, the very first produced by Piaggio, along with more recent examples borrowed from the Vespa Club Košice.
Photo: Rudolf Baranovič.
With the majestic setting of the castle serving as a backdrop, visitors to the exhibition can also admire rare vintage advertising and film posters, technical drawings and other memorabilia, in addition to works of art by Mimmo Rotella and Maurizio Galimberti.
Photo: Rudolf Baranovič.
The exhibition was opened in the presence of Italian Ambassador Gianclemente De Felice, accompanied by the General Manager of the Slovak National Museum, Anton Bittner; with them was Marco Fumagalli and exhibition curator Rino Drogo. Also present at the event were leading names from the business, political and diplomatic world, including the Ambassadors to the USA, Canada, Israel, the UK, Germany and the Holy See.
Photographer: Rudolf Baranovič.
The Campari distributor for Slovakia and the Czech Republic provided Aperol and Campari-based drinks, adding to the Italian atmosphere of the aperitif, with figures from the fashion and entertainment worlds and influencers also in attendance.
Over the course of the afternoon, members of the Vespa Klub Slovakia also arrived, and were exceptionally allowed to drive into the castle courtyard on their Vespas, creating a lively, spectacular gathering of bikes.
Photo: Rudolf Baranovič.
The initiative, which is part of the 18th Italian festival in Slovakia entitled “Dolce Vitaj”, has the patronage of the Mayor of Bratislava, Matúš Vallo, and will remain open to the public until 11th May.
Source, press release from the Bratislava Italian Cultural Institute: https://iicbratislava.esteri.it/it/
Photographs of the inaugural event were taken by Rudolf Baranovič.
GREAT MEDIA COVERAGE. We would like to thank Marco Gerbi, Italian Cultural Institute, Cultural Section of the Italian Embassy, Bratislava, for his support. He notes: “We have enjoyed great media coverage of the ‘Vespa: a Made in Italy legend’ exhibition, organised by the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute, in collaboration with both Italian and local partners, and held at the Bratislava Castle Museum from 12 March to 11 May 2025.
Interviewing Marco Fumagalli, at the opening of the exhibition. Photo: Rudolf Baranovič.
All the major media outlets in the country took an interest in the opening event, with a large amount of coverage broadcast in the days following the opening. This included the TVR Slovak Public Television channel broadcast entitled ‘Exhibition of legendary Vespa scooters’ - both as part of the national news programme shown on the first channel and in another long report on the evening news - plus reports by JOJ, a commercial television channel in Slovakia, - ‘Vespa goes on show’ - as part of the programme ‘Top Star’; by TA3 – ‘Vespa scooter exhibition opened’ - on the national news channel; by Pravda – ‘Freedom and sex appeal: the legendary Vespa’, with a web article with video, and many more besides.
SOCIAL CORNER – IIC BRATISLAVA FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/IICBratislava/?ref=bookmarks
The photos of the opening event, which have had more than 7,000 views, can be seen on the Facebook page of the Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute.Finally, the presence of several key figures from the world of fashion and entertainment, as well as social media influencers, meant that images of the inauguration appeared on many Instagram and Facebook profiles.”
THE COMMENT OF THE CURATOR, THE EMOTION OF THE COLLECTOR. “The opening event was truly excellent”, commented Rino Drogo, curator of the Vespa exhibition, the first of its kind in Slovakia, “with the participation of leading Slovak authorities, and the Fumagalli Collection was met with unanimous approval.” The goal of the exhibition - which has been achieved in full - is to offer a representative and appealing overview of the long history of the iconic Vespa.
In addition, Drogo (Vice-President of the Vespa Club Seregno, Italy) adds, “On 31 May, we will be opening another major exhibition in Seregno, on the Vespa and sport.”
Photo courtesy.
While he is accustomed to both national and international recognition for his extraordinary collection - which is the result of “more than 25 years of love and commitment” - Marco Fumagalli, Italian entrepreneur and Vespa lover, does not hide the excitement he experienced at Bratislava Castle. He was roundly praised for his willingness to share the best of his collection with the public, and the deep commitment of the organising team was also recognised.
Photo sent by(https://www.signorvespa.eu/). Next event: ‘Signor Vespa and Richard Tízik: My life with a Vespa”, 10 April 2025, Bratislava Castle, with a guided tour of the exhibition:
https://iicbratislava.esteri.it/sk/gli_eventi/calendario/signor-vespa-a-richard-tizik-moj-zivot-s-vespou/
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