Life

Enrico Piaggio was born in Pegli, a town that was once an independent community. His father, Rinaldo Piaggio, was the founder of the Piaggio company. Enrico earned a degree in economics from the University of Genoa in 1927. Later, in 1951, he received an honorary degree in engineering from the University of Pisa.

Enrico and his brother Armando inherited their father’s engineering business after Rinaldo Piaggio passed away in 1938. At first, the company made railway equipment, but by the start of World War II, it had shifted to producing airplanes. However, their factory was severely damaged during Allied bombing raids and could not continue airplane production after the war ended.

In 1943, Enrico Piaggio made the decision to begin manufacturing Vespa scooters. This choice proved to be wise, as Piaggio eventually became one of the world’s largest producers of two-wheeled vehicles.

Enrico was seriously injured in September 1943 after being shot in the lobby of the Excelsior Hotel in Florence. Doctors saved his life by removing one of his kidneys.

In October 1965, Enrico fell ill at work during an industrial dispute. An ambulance transported him to the hospital, but it had to navigate through crowds of strikers. Enrico was released from the hospital and passed away at home ten days later. Thousands of people gathered along the streets for his funeral, including many of the former strikers.

Family

Enrico Piaggio married Paola Antonelli, who was previously married to Colonel Alberto Bechi Luserna, a commander during the battle of El Alamein. Together, they lived in Villa Varramista, a home that Piaggio bought in 1953.

Piaggio’s stepdaughter, Antonella Bechi Piaggio, married Umberto Agnelli in 1959. They had a son named Giovanni Alberto Agnelli, who later worked as a director for Piaggio. In 1974, Antonella married again and became the Duchess Visconti di Modrone.