She was built by OTO at La Spezia and named after Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi, an Italian explorer and Admiral of World War I.

The Duca degli Abruzzi-class cruisers were the final version of the Condottieri class and were larger and better protected than their predecessors.

The armament was also increased by two extra 152 mm guns, triple turrets replaced twins in the "A" and "Y" positions thus making them the most heavily armed light cruisers of Italy during World War II.

[1] In late 1953, during the negotiations which ended in the handover of Trieste to Italy, the cruiser was transferred from Taranto to Venezia, in order to strengthen the Italian position at the bargaining table.

[2] Eventually, on 26 October 1954, Duca degli Abruzzi was the flagship of the Italian naval force which took possession of Trieste's port facilities.