Guest Post By: Margie Miklas
If you have time in Rome and want to do something a little off the beaten track, why not visit Cinecittà Movie Studios? Sprawled over 99 acres, Cinecittà translated means “Cinema City” and is affectionately known as “Hollywood on the Tiber.” Cinecittà Movie Studios are the largest film studios in Europe and they do feature tours for visitors.
About Cinecittà Movie Studios and Location
Located just 5.6 miles southeast of the historic district in Rome, Cinecittà Movie Studios is conveniently located to hotels and apartments in Rome, the studios can be reached by taking the Metro A line to the Cinecittà station. It is the only movie studio in the world where it is literally a one-stop movie production and includes pre-production, production and post-production all in one place. Today there are over 300 dressing rooms, 21 make-up areas plus administrative offices here. Two large tents and 22 sound stages are here along with an outdoor 7000 square meter tank which allows for filming of ocean scenes.
History
Since 1937 3000 films have been shot in these studios and of these 83 have received Oscar nominations and 48 have been Academy Award winners. These include: Ben Hur, Cleopatra, La Dolce Vita, The English Patient, The Passion, Roman Holiday, The Pink Panther, The Agony and the Ecstasy and others.
Some of the more accomplished producers and directors have made films at Cinecittà Studios and perhaps Federico Fellini can claim title to the most films here. Other famous directors and producers who have filmed here are Martin Scorsese with Gangs of New York and Francis Ford Coppola, who says that "I really feel at home here in Cinecittà." Franco Zeffirelli directed Romeo and Juliet here and Cinecittà Studios has been home to Roberto Rossellini and Mel Gibson among many others.
Cinecittà Today
This busy studio produces both national and international films today. Besides that videos, commercials, and television productions are shot here plus some photo shoots. Cinecittà Studios is a very busy place. Currently in production is another version of Romeo and Juliet featuring Paul Giamatti.
As a way to provide incentives to filmmakers to shoot in Italy, Italian tax credits are available, as they are in other major movie cities such as New York City.
Studio Tours
At Via Tuscolana, 1055, Cinecittà Studios has tours which are open to the public. Its “Cinecittà Shows Off” has recently become a permanent exhibition where you can tour the back lots of movie sets of ancient Rome in an interactive fun tour. You will see costumes used in Fellini’s movies as well as dresses worn by Sophia Loren and Cameron Diaz in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York.
All aspects of moviemaking are explored as you tour rooms which focus on set designs, directing and sound and all the other aspects of film production. Tours are from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm daily except Tuesdays with slightly shortened hours on the weekends. Ticket prices range from 11 Euros to visit the exhibition to 20 Euros for a guided tour of outdoor sets and a look behind the scenes. Reduced prices are available for seniors and children.
Cinecittà Studios is a excellent way to spend the day when staying for extended stays in Rome apartments and hotels and one is looking for something different.
Guest Post By: Margie Miklas
Follow Margie on her blog at margieinitaly.wordpress.com
