With 3216 passengers and 1013 crew members aboard, the cruise ship hit an underwater rock formation off the island of Giglio's east coast just south of its port at 09:45 pm on January 13, 2012.
The strong impact of the collision opened a 70-metre-wide hole on the left side of the ship’s hull.
The ship's captain, Francesco Schettino, had decided to "navigate according to his sailor's instinct, closer to the island, trusting in his abilities", wrote judges in the subsequent trial sentence, in which he was given 16 years and one month in prison.
The ship ran aground north of the island's port at Punta Gabbianara, which saved it from sinking 100 metres to the sea floor.
Mr Schettino lost an initial appeal on May 31 of last year, and received an additional five-year ban on practicing any maritime profession.
His defence team appealed to Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation to annul the sentence and is awaiting a decision.
Mr Schettino was the only person to stand trial for the disaster after a number of crew members and company staff reached plea bargains with prosecutors and were sentenced to three years.
To commemorate the tragic incident, the island of Giglio will hold a memorial Mass at the Church of Santi Lorenzo and Mamiliano, where many passengers took refuge after the shipwreck.
A flower wreath will be placed in the sea at Punta Gabbianara, followed by a torchlight procession to the memorial plaque marking the disaster, where boats in the port will sound their sirens and a minute of silence will be observed.
Italy's Environmental Minister Gianluca Galletti is expected to attend the ceremony.
With ANSA
