CRISTOFORO COLOMBO — ITALIAN LINE TRAVEL AGENCY MODEL WITH QUAYSIDE AND CRANE
Italy, 1954 — Dimensions: 155 × 28 × 27 cm

Large travel agency display model of the Cristoforo Colombo ocean liner, made at the time of the ship’s introduction for Italia – Società di Navigazione, internationally known as the Italian Line.

The ensemble presents the ship on its base, alongside a miniature loading quay positioned behind the vessel. A harbour crane with an open lattice boom, mounted on rails allowing it to travel along the quay, completes the scene. This arrangement evokes the embarkation and cargo-handling operations at the ports served by the company.

The model captures the elegant lines of the ocean liner in its early livery: a black hull, red lower hull, ivory superstructure and a single funnel accented with coloured bands. The name CRISTOFORO COLOMBO appears on the bow.

The decks feature numerous details, including lifeboats on their davits, masts and rigging, cargo-handling equipment, anchor chains, the bridge, passageways, stairways and railings. The leisure areas are represented by three swimming pools, tables, seating and miniature figures. Italian flags complete the presentation.

Through its impressive size and its composition combining the liner with its port setting, this model recalls the windows of shipping agencies in the 1950s, when ship models allowed travellers to discover their future surroundings at sea.

Cristoforo Colombo: an Italian Line Ocean Liner

Built at the Ansaldo shipyards in Genoa-Sestri Ponente, the Cristoforo Colombo was launched on 10 May 1953 and entered service on 15 July 1954. A sister ship to the Andrea Doria, it contributed to the renewal of the Italian fleet after the Second World War.

Its maiden voyage sailed from Genoa to New York, calling at Cannes, Naples, Gibraltar and Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Its route crossed the Mediterranean, passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and continued across the North Atlantic. It remained on the service between Italy and North America until 1973.

Its interiors reflected Italian expertise in architecture and decoration. Several designers contributed to the project, notably Gustavo Pulitzer Finali, Guglielmo Ulrich and Nino Zoncada. The ship combined lounges, promenade areas and leisure facilities with the experience of a transatlantic crossing.

In 1964, it carried an exceptional cargo: Michelangelo’s Pietà, transported to New York for the World’s Fair. From 1973, it served the South American routes until its withdrawal from passenger service in 1977. It subsequently provided floating accommodation in Venezuela before being scrapped in Taiwan in 1983.

Technical Specifications of the Ship

SpecificationDescriptionShipping companyItalia – Società di Navigazione / Italian LinePort of registryGenoa, ItalyBuilderAnsaldo, Genoa-Sestri PonenteLaunch date10 May 1953Entry into service15 July 1954LengthApproximately 213.6 metresBeamApproximately 27.4 metresGross tonnage29,191 GRTPropulsionSteam turbines driving two propellersService speedApproximately 23 knotsPassenger capacity recorded in the Ansaldo archives1,242 passengers: 218 in First Class, 321 in Cabin Class and 703 in Tourist ClassSister shipAndrea Doria

Specifications are drawn from the Ansaldo archives and the maritime records consulted; passenger capacities could vary according to accommodation arrangements and periods of operation.

A Testament to the Golden Age of Italian Ocean Travel

This travel agency model combines the elegance of the Cristoforo Colombo with the technical character of its quayside and crane. It is a particularly evocative display piece illustrating the history of the Italian Line and mid-century transatlantic travel.

These search criteria may interest you: