An icon of the Italian way of life, the Vespa was celebrating its 80th birthday on Saturday, as thousands of riders paraded through Rome on the legendary scooters.
A few donned biker jackets despite the scorching heat while others opted for t-shirts, the hum of their machines filling the capital with a colourful buzz.
Some rode solo, others in pairs, whizzing through the city centre -- even along streets usually closed to private traffic.
"We brought our Vespa over from the United States. We travelled through Germany, then via Vienna ... and I then rode my Vespa from Austria to Rome, a journey that took two weeks," Texas resident David Baamonde told AFP-TV on Saturday.
"For me, the Vespa is a way of life, a sense of carefree living, enjoying the moment, discovering scenery -- it's a lifestyle," said Italian Andrea Musco.
