Italy on film
With the Lavazza Italian Film Festival over for another year in Australia, it has got me thinking about some of the locations used in the films. It is always great to watch a movie and sometimes recognise the place. It is even better if I have been there. If I haven’t been there, after the film I want to find out where it is and then add to my wish list. Here are three towns and cities that have been captured on film.
Rome
Perhaps an obvious choice, but ever since the 1950s Rome has been immortalised in film. From Three Coins in a Fountain to 8 ½ and to modern films such as La Grande Bellezza (The Great Beauty), To Rome With Love and Eat Pray Love. It’s not always films set in the tourist areas that are the best ones.
One of the big movies at the festival this year, The Champion, is set around the big soccer stadiums, the training grounds, and expensive homes of footballers.
Another is the Italian language film (from a previous year) ‘Perfetti Sconosciuti’ (Perfect Strangers), a film set in one apartment throughout a dinner party. Both films are worth a look.
Arezzo
Arezzo in Tuscany was the backdrop for the sensational film La Vita è bella (Life Is Beautiful). Arezzo is a beautiful town with significant paintings, churches and piazzas to warrant a visit anyway.
It is possible to find the locations used in the film. Noticeboards detailing the places and their specific use in the movie are evident throughout the town.
Walking around Arezzo, I was reminded of some poignant scenes from the film. Fans of the film will recognise the rather grand triangular sloping piazza where the hero of the film, Guido Orefice, is shown cycling down it at speed.
Siena
Siena is one the jewels of Tuscany. Much visited for its beautiful circular piazza, Il Campo Marco and the Duomo, Siena has also been used in the movies to significant effect.
Most recently, Siena has featured in My House in Umbria, Under The Tuscan Sun, Tea With Mussolini and Quantum of Solace.
