VICENZA Italy —¬ During U.S. Ambassador to Italy Jack Markell’s May 17 visit to the Vicenza Military Community, he toured the future homes of U.S. Soldiers and their families.
Markell visited U.S. Army Garrison Italy amid stops at the Southern European Task Force, Africa and meetings with Vicenza municipal leaders. Construction at the Villaggio housing area caught his attention.
“I've been extraordinarily impressed by what I've seen here in Vicenza, the quality of the people and the focus on the mission,” Markell said.
Accompanied by Douglass R. Benning, the U.S. Consul General in Milan, and other U.S. State Department officials, Markell learned more about recent construction progress, to include new townhouses. Staff from Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command explained how the five-phase project is coming along.
The $500 million multiyear project is the biggest of its kind in Italy’s Veneto Region. At Villaggio, there will be 428 homes for Army families, plus 50 more on Caserma Ederle. It replaces outdated houses built more than 60 years ago.
“It's going to be very much appreciated by the families who will be here for decades to come,” Markell said.
During the tour, Markell spoke with Col. Scott Horrigan, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Italy, who shared the U.S. Army’s plans for the housing area.
“Having the ambassador here is a great opportunity to showcase all the great things that are happening in Northern Italy and within the Army,” Horrigan said.
Most of the Villaggio tour was by bus. They walked through one home that’s recently built. Benning first visited in November 2023, shortly after the new Vicenza High School opened nearby.
“Today has been another great opportunity for us to see the immense progress that’s being made in the construction of the housing for all the folks who are going to be living here, particularly for the families,” Benning said.
Earlier, the State Department officials met Maj. Gen. Todd R. Wasmund, Commander of Southern European Task Force, Africa, and other Army leaders. Markell offered thanks to the Soldiers in Vicenza and their families, who sacrifice by serving overseas, he said.
Afterward, they met Giacomo Possamai, Vicenza’s mayor, at the Basilica Palladiana in downtown Vicenza and later ate lunch with local community and business leaders. Benning noted the strong relationship between the Italian community and the Americans who live, work and play in Vicenza.
“This is really just another way to demonstrate how we work together to build a shared future” Benning said.
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