Because much of its sailing would be in warmer waters, the designers included an outdoor dining area, unusual for ships of this era.

William Beardmore and Company built the ship in Dalmuir, Glasgow for the Italian Lloyd Sabaudo Line.

In 1928 she was replaced on the New York route by the newer Conte Grande and began service between Italy and South America.

After 1933 this became one of the major escape routes for the Jewish population of Germany and Austria as Shanghai was one of the few places that did not require paid emigration visas.

On 24 May 1941 the Royal Navy submarine HMS Upholder sank her by torpedo 16 km (9 nautical miles) off the coast of Sicily while in convoy from Naples to Tripoli.