7 films to watch before traveling to Italy

US, WASHINGTON (ORDO NEWS) — So far, we can’t allow ourselves to move as we want, but nothing prevents us from traveling through this beautiful country with our imagination, sitting comfortably on the couch

The Italian National Tourism Agency has compiled its list of the most famous and significant films about this country. We have chosen our magnificent seven.

1. Roman holidays

One of the greatest films of the 20th century (released in 1953), dedicated to the incomparable beauty of Rome, tells the story of the Roman adventures of Anna (Audrey Hepburn): Anne is a princess who escapes from her diplomatic duties to see Rome as an ordinary tourist. Joe (Gregory Peck) finds her wandering the streets of the city and tries to help her realize her desire, helping her avoid the paparazzi and plainclothes agents chasing her. The most famous scene, depicted on the poster, is Audrey Hepburn with Gregory Peck on the legendary Vespa scooter, driving past the Coliseum and Venice Square. Another Roman address, especially important for the film, is Vija Margutta 51, the workshop of the local sculptor, who “played the role” of the protagonist’s house, Joe / Gregory Peck.

2. Sweet life

“Sweet Life”, the famous “Dolce Vita”, a masterpiece filmed by Federico Fellini, became a symbol of “made in Italy” and the magical Rome of the 1960s, causing nostalgia. The film tells about various episodes from the life of the journalist Marcello (Marcello Mastroianni), the author of full gossip articles, fond of social life and beautiful women. The place where the main action takes place is the famous Roman street Via Veneto (even if it was completely recreated in the Cinecittà film studio) and its bars, in which celebrities and middle-class people hang out. The most famous scene is the bathing of Anita Ekberg in the Trevi Fountain: Ekberg plays the role of the unbridled Sylvia, a famous actress who leaves the party to spend the night walking around the city with Marcello.

3. The talented Mr. Ripley

This recognized thriller is a true anthem of Italy, which is shown from north to south: the shooting took place on Ischia, Procida, the Sorrento Peninsula, Rome, Venice, Naples, Livorno, Palermo and San Remo (although the scenes in the casino were shot in Anzio). The film, set in the late 1950s, tells of the young Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), who pretends to be a friend, and one wealthy New York family hires him to bring home Dickie’s son (Jude Law), who lives in voluntary “beautiful exile” in Italy with his girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow). Tom joins them in Ischia (in the film the island is called Montebello), becomes their friend, penetrates deeper and deeper into their lives, so much so that he begins to impersonate Dickey. One of the most famous scenes is on the beach, on about. Ischia, when three young people meet for the first time, and the scene,

4. Basilicata: from coast to coast

A true hymn to love the region, which is often forgotten, but which is truly beautiful. The film happily tells the story of the adventures of four friends who, together with the main one, Nicola (Rocco Papaleo), must get from Maratea, located on the Tyrrhenian coast, to Scanzano Jonico on the Ionian, to take part in the music festival. They decide not to drive a car, but to go on foot along the roundabout roads in order to fill with a new meaning their life, devoid of energy and goals. Their journey with songs, a glass of wine and unexpected encounters will have a therapeutic effect on everyone. The film is fully set in Basilicata, in the towns of Maratea, Trekkin, Lauria, Tramutola, Spinoza, Aliano, Scanzano-Jonico and in the abandoned “ghost town” of Krakow. Among the most famous scenes is the first one, filmed at the foot of a gigantic statue of Christ the Redeemer, from where a view of Maratea opens; arrival at Gramsci Square in Scanzano, and a scene on Lake Pertusillo, where the main characters stop to spend the night.

5. Tourist

The romantic thriller “Tourist”, which takes place in the most romantic city on earth, in Venice, is about how the American mathematics teacher Frank Tapelo (Johnny Depp), who meets on the train the charming and mysterious Elise (Angelina Jolie) and follows her to Venice. He does not suspect that Elise is being watched by police searching for her husband (implicated in tax fraud and allegedly undergoing plastic surgery to change her appearance). In one of the most famous scenes, Frank jumps from the balcony directly onto the canopy of a fruit shop in the central Rialto market, next to the Grand Canal. Most of the indoor scenes were shot at Danieli Hotel, one of the most luxurious in the city, overlooking the lagoon.

6. Great beauty

This film by Paolo Sorrentino, a vivid and at the same time sad picture of modern Rome, tells the story of writer Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) a frustrated, bored dandy, a lover of social life. His sixty-fifth birthday and the loss of Eliza, his only great love, bring back memories of his youth in Jep’s memory and make him think about the idea to start writing again. In the most symbolic scene of the film, Jep lies in a hammock on his terrace – in front of him is the Colosseum, Vittoriano, and in the distance you can see the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. But in the frame there are also less known, but no less beautiful corners of Rome, such as the Aqueduct Park along the Appian Way, the Aqua Paola Fountain and Tempietto Bramante.

7. Da Vinci Code, trilogy

In the Da Vinci Code trilogy, Italy introduced intrigues, secrets, and literary reminiscences. After the first chapter on Paris, in The Angels and Demons, the trilogy moves to Rome, where Langdon (Tom Hanks), a character student, tries to shed light on the anti-clerical sect of the Illuminati opposing the Vatican. Important scenes of the film were shot on St. Peter’s Square, in the Pantheon, in the Chigi chapel in the church of Santa Maria del Popolo (where the central sculpture of Bernini is located for the film) and in the castle of St. Angel. The movie Inferno, on the other hand, takes place in Florence, where Langdon tries not to let the crazy Dante-inspired Hell unleash a pandemic. In many frames, we see the Palazzo Vecchio, as well as the Boboli Gardens, from where the main characters run to the Vasari corridor.

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