Travel for Pennies

It is a symbol of the city, just as powerful and evocative as leather shoes and pasta. The Vespa has caught the attention of travelers and locals for over 60 years, and there’s no signs of it slowing down. The motor scooter, named Vespa because it’s narrow “waist” makes it look like a wasp, is a kind of by-product of the war. Piaggio, the maker, was in the business of military manufacturing, and all the main plants were bombed to the ground. When the war was over, he conceived of an idea to make low-cost vehicles for the citizens of Italy, and ones that would compliment the urban landscapes.

One of the first things that people notice when they set out of their Rome hotel is that the streets and alleys can get very narrow. There are many places in the city that were only accessible by walking, but a little scooter can get in between some of these tight spots as well. Never one to shun his sense of design, and understanding that the people of Rome are some of the most discerning and styling people in the world, he took great care in developing a machine that looked as good as it ran.

Constructing a body so that the drive chain wouldn’t spray grime all over the bike, or the rider, he also had his team construct it so that it would also be a very comfortable ride. It’s low to the ground, the controls as fairly easy as motorcycles go, and it’s small enough that one can almost have conversations with other riders. As anyone who’s seen the famous Italian films with the scooters featured knows, they do look delightfully stylish and modern. Today, visitors can rent the scooters and take special tours of Rome on Vespas . It’s just one more way of doing what Romans do.

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