ITALY/VATICAN: European Harley-Davidson enthusiasts take over the Italian capital to mark the motorcycle company's 110th anniversary and include Pope Francis in their celebrations

Record ID: 190030

  • Title: ITALY/VATICAN: European Harley-Davidson enthusiasts take over the Italian capital to mark the motorcycle company's 110th anniversary and include Pope Francis in their celebrations
  • Date: 14th June 2013
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (JUNE 14, 2013) (REUTERS) HARLEY-DAVIDSON ENTHUSIASTS OUTSIDE THE VATICAN VARIOUS OF BIKERS POSING FOR PHOTOS BIKERS WITH ST. PETER'S BASILICA IN BACKGROUND ENGINE REVVING VARIOUS OF DETAILS OF BIKE BIKERS GATHERED VARIOUS OF BIKERS DANCING BIKERS NEXT TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE REFLECTION ON BIKE LIGHT SHOWING POLICE, TRAFFIC AND ST. PETER'S BASILICA VARIOUS OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON BIKES BIKERS LOOKING AT MAP BIKERS GATHERED NEAR VATICAN BIKERS WALKING PAST BIKER WITH VATICAN REFLECTED ON HIS HELMET BIKERS RIDING PAST (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANDY PETER FROM MUNICH, SAYING: "Because it's the biggest Harley traffic in Europe today, yes, it's the 110th anniversary of the company and so many brothers and friends are meeting here because it's a big event and Rome is a nice city." BIKERS RIDING NEAR VATICAN VARIOUS OF LARGE CROWD OF BIKERS GATHERED ON STREET SIDE BACK WHEEL OF BIKE WITH DOME OF ST. PETER'S BASILICA IN BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) PETER FJORDBAK FROM DENMARK, SAYING: "We want to go to Italy because the weather is much better there than ours and I have been a lot of times and I love Rome, it's good. Nice buildings, everything." BIKES BIKERS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) BIKER ROBERTO FORLEO FROM ROME, ITALY, SAYING: "I found out about this event about a year ago and so it's now a year that I've been living for it. I'm so fortunate to be here, it's an exceptional event, I'm happy. " VARIOUS OF BIKERS BIKERS LEAVING WITH VATICAN IN BACKGROUND
  • Embargoed: 29th June 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Vatican City State, Italy
  • City:
  • Country: Italy Vatican City State
  • Topics: Quirky,Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA9X3G5MPAJZMR44XI4HIM2OWAQ
  • Story Text: With engines revving, Harley-Davidson enthusiasts on Friday (June 14) gathered in the Italian capital to mark 110 years of the famous motorcycle company.
    Thousands are expected to attend the four-day event, which is part of global celebrations around the anniversary.
    With St. Peter's Basilica serving as their backdrop, participants took a break to dance, chat and show off their vehicles before hitting the city's cobblestone streets.

    "Because it's the biggest Harley traffic in Europe today, yes, it's the 110th anniversary of the company and so many brothers and friends are meeting here because it's a big event and Rome is a nice city," said German participant Andy Peter.
    Some of the bikers gathering under the blazing Roman sun were simply happy to have escaped colder temperatures.

    "We want to go to Italy because the weather is much better there than ours and I have been a lot of times and I love Rome, it's good. Nice buildings, everything," said Danish biker Peter Fjordbak.
    Several activities and events have been organised across the Eternal City to mark the anniversary and to entertain the European enthusiasts.
    Local biker Roberto Forleo said he had been looking forward to the event since he had heard it would take place a year ago.

    "I found out about this event about a year ago and so it's now a year that I've been living for it. I'm so fortunate to be here, it's an exceptional event, I'm happy," he said.
    The bikers are expected to attend Pope Francis's weekly Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on Sunday (June 16) for a "bike blessing".
    Earlier in the week the motor company's representatives met with the Pope and according to the Vatican gave the pontiff two Harley-Davidson motorcycles and a leather jacket as a gift.
    A 40-kilometre Harley-Davidson parade from the port city of Ostia to central Rome is scheduled for Saturday (June 15). The Roman anniversary activities run through Sunday evening.
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