REX, the most famous and legendary liner of the Italian merchant navy. A symbol of Italy in the fascist era, Blue Riband winner for the fastest Atlantic crossing, Rex revolutionized the way to travel by sea, opening the way to the modern concept of cruising. We tell its story by direct testimonies, experts’ and enthusiasts’ contributions, to reconstruct the history and the legend regard the short life of the ship, from the first trip in 1932 to the sinking in 1944, after an allied bombing, until the echoes of its myth, that still emerge in Italian industry and society.