As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence, the City of Genoa has launched an institutional mission to New York designed to strengthen the long-standing relationship between Liguria and America.
Mayor Silvia Salis, accompanied by Tourism and Commerce Councilor Tiziana Beghin, led a delegation from July 4–8 focused on promoting tourism, expanding economic partnerships, supporting cultural diplomacy, and reconnecting with the Italian American community.
The visit coincided with the arrival of the Italian Navy's iconic training ship Amerigo Vespucci, one of the highlights of the international Sail4th 250 celebrations. The vessel participated in the July 4 Parade of Ships along the Hudson River before opening its decks to institutional events. During a reception aboard the Vespucci, Italian officials presented the next edition of the America’s Cup, further reinforcing Genoa's growing international profile as one of the world's premier sailing capitals.
Beyond the celebrations, the mission had a strong economic and promotional component. The delegation met with American business leaders and tourism professionals to showcase Genoa's transformation into one of the Mediterranean's most dynamic destinations. Meetings with North American tour operators and specialized travel media highlighted Liguria's cultural heritage, coastline, gastronomy, and maritime tradition while encouraging new tourism flows from the United States.
One of the most significant aspects of the visit was its engagement with the Italian American community. Salis met members of the Associazione Liguri nel Mondo and the New York chapter of the Ambassadors of Genoa in the World, organizations dedicated to preserving Ligurian identity across generations. She also met with John F. Calvelli, President of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), to discuss new opportunities for collaboration in cultural exchange, education, tourism, and economic development. The meeting underscored the importance of working with one of the nation's leading Italian American organizations to strengthen ties between Liguria and the more than 20 million Americans of Italian descent.
The delegation also attended the traditional Italian-language Sunday Mass at the historic Old St. Patrick's Cathedral before visiting the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, where millions of immigrants - including hundreds of thousands from Liguria and the rest of Italy—first entered the United States in search of new opportunities.
Reflecting on the mission, Salis described Genoa and New York as cities connected by migration, commerce, and hope. She noted that Ligurian emigration to America began as early as the 1830s and that generations of emigrants departed from the Port of Genoa carrying dreams that helped shape the United States. Nearly two centuries later, those same historical connections continue to create new opportunities for cooperation, making this mission not only a celebration of shared history but also an investment in the future of Italy–U.S. relations.
