We are happy to announce the launch of a new tour here at ItalyXP, based around the Oscar-winning film The Great Beauty.
The film itself is a tour-de-force, having won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film, the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language, 4 separate European Film Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Editor and, of course, the 86th Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Much of the film centers on the protagonist, Jep Gambardella, and the City he loved so much, Rome. Having spent decades charming his way through the extravagant and lavish nightlife of the city, on the evening of his 65th birthday he gets a shock from the past. This shock causes him to take stock of his life, and take a closer look at both the people around him as well as the City he lives in.
A City that he discovers he still loves very much; a city that possesses a timeless and eternal landscape of sublime beauty.
You'll learn exactly what captivated Jep Gambardella about Rome on this tour; in the words of John Powers on National Public Radio, "Sorrentino offers the most ravishing footage of Rome I've ever seen."
THE GREAT BEAUTY TOUR: Immerse Yourself in the Locations of The Great Beauty
The Great Beauty Tour is extensive and comprehensive, includes a wide variety of both interior and exterior locations of The Great Beauty, and takes place half on foot, the other half in a limousine with driver.
It visits ten distinct locations of The Great Beauty, most of which should be instantly recognizable to fans of the film:
Via Veneto – One of the most famous (and famously expensive) streets in Rome, originally made popular by Fellini's La Dolce Vita.Piazza Navona – A large open square in Rome built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, the site features intriguing obelisks, fountains, and statuary.Palazzo Altemps – This palace holds several displays on the history of collecting, including pieces from the famous Boncompagni-Ludovisi and Mattei collections.Palazzo Braschi – This palazzo currently houses the Museo di Roma, which covers historical periods ranging from the Dark Ages up until the 19th century.Terme di Caracalla – Marvel at the engineering skill of the Ancient Romans as you contemplate these massive public baths constructed nearly two millennia ago.Lungotevere e Isola Tiberina – This alley running along the banks of the Tiber throughout the heart of Rome is rich with history.Tempietto di San Pietro in Montorio – According to tradition, this church was built on the remains of an earlier structure which supposedly was the site of the crucifixion of Saint Peter.Giardino degli Aranci, Aventino – Thought by many to be the most romantic garden in Rome, this Aventine park presents a marvelous view along with the lovely fragrance of oranges.Fontana dell'Acqua Paola, Gianicolo – Affectionately known as 'Il Fontanone' (The Big Fountain), this massive construction rests atop the Janiculum Hill on the bank of the Tiber.Villa Giulia – A villa in Rome originally constructed at the behest of Pope Julius III, the now publicly owned Renaissance façade plays host to the Museo Nazionale Etrusco.
So if you love The Great Beauty and are interested in learning more about the city which lies at the heart of this incredibly powerful and moving film, take this once-in-a-lifetime brought to you by ItalyXP.
by Salvatore Severo
