World Thousands of Vespa riders have been moving in swarms through Rome to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the iconic Italian scooter, which became famous in the 1953 film Roman Holiday. Produced in the postwar years, the scooter came to signify freedom and modernity Listen to this article Estimated 4 minutes The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. Vespa enthusiasts from around the world ride during the parade in Rome marking the 80th anniversary of the iconic Italian brand of scooters on June 27, 2026. (Alberto Pizzoli/Getty Images) Down a flight of stairs beneath a scooter rental shop near the Colosseum, Rome’s heat and honking traffic give way to a calm, cool reverence in the form of a basement shrine to Italy’s most iconic two-wheeler.…