Film tourism in the Marche

Obsession (1943) directed by Luchino Visconti, starring Clara Calamai and Massimo Girotti.
A drifter becomes engaged to the wife of a restaurant owner where he is staying. The two lovers decide to leave, but the woman came back to her husband; however, they meet again and kill the restaurant owner. After his murder, the two are consumed by grief.

The son’s room (2001) directed by Nanni Moretti, starring Nanni Moretti and Laura Morante Giovanni. A psychoanalyst is married to Paola and they have 2 children: Andrea and Irene. They look like a happy family, but Andrea’s death due to  a scuba diving, forced them to face this suffering situation.

Ancona is the chief town and the largest municipality of the Marche Region (101,000 inhabitants). With a 2,400-year history, the town has evidence from different period: from the Roman ruins (Trajan’s Arch built in 115 A.D. or the Roman amphitheatre built in the I century A.D.), the Cathedral of San Ciriaco and the impressive Santa Maria della Piazz Church (XI and XII centuries), to the the Thirteen Spouts or Calamo Fountain (Renaissance period) and the War Memorial of the fascist period. It is also important to outline the biodiversity, in particular the promontory shaped like an elbow which naturally protects the largest port of the Middle Adriatic, and the Mount Conero which dominates Portonovo and Sirolo (Blue Flag Award). For its stylistic and naturalistic varieties, Ancona is one of the most suitable filming location of the Marche; in 1943 Ancona was chosen by Visconti for his masterpiece Obsession which foreshadowed the Neorealist work

During the film, the chief town of the Marche is the location where the protagonist Gino (Masssimo Girotti) has the possibility to leave his past behind after being rejected by Giovanna (Clara Calamai) and Ancona is also the place where the two lovers meet again. The train station, the Guasco neighborhood, the Astagno street, the Cathedral of San Ciriaco and the San Ciriaco Festival are clearly noticeable. In 2001, Ancona has become one of the most attractive town nationally and internationally. The chief town was funded by the Greeks of Syracuse and chosen by the famous director Nanni Moretti for his film The son’s room, which gained the Golden Palm at Cannes Film Festival and the David di Donatello Prize. In this film, the Torrette Regional Hospital and the long three-lined Vittoria Avenue, which leads to the Passetto War Memorial, XXIX Settembre Street, Republic Square, Saints Pellegrino and Theresa Church and the famous bar “Tazza d’oro”.

Try to fly (2003) directed by Lorenzo Cicconi Massi, starring Riccardo Scamarcio and Alessandra Mastronardi.

After his father’s death, the protagonist inherits the family metallurgical industry and he is forced to leave his job, he was a wedding photographer. However, the protagonist has been hired to film the wedding, but he is part of the escape plan of the bride. Their trip to the south of Italy begins, and it is an opportunity to know one another better.  

Best with a Gun (1977) directed by Sergio Grieco, starring Claudio Gora, Richard Harrinson, Helumt Berger, Marisa Mell, Vittorio Duse, Ezio Marano, Marina Giordana, Alberto Squillante. Music by Umberto Smaila, photograph Vittorio Bernini.

Senigallia has obtained the Blue Flag award since 1997. It is famous in Italy and the world, especially for its majestic beaches and for the romantic promenade. From a historic point of view, the town, located near the Misa, offers two important evidence: the Della Rovere Fortress built between XIV and XV centuries by Della Rovere family; the Ercolani Arcades near the right side of the Misa river, the late baroque Saint Peter Apostle Cathedral built in the second half of the 1700; the famous Rotonda a Mare. After being used as a military warehouse, in 1950-1960 it became a urban centre and nowadays exhibitions and conferences take place here, especially in summer. In 2003, the director Lorenzo Cicconi Massi has chosen Senigallia as the perfect location for Try to fly (a dramatic movie released only in 2007), and the protagonists are the most loved actors among teenagers: Riccardo Scamarcio and Alessandra Mastronardi.  

The Mandrake (1965) directed by Alberto Lattuada, starring Totò and Rosanna Schiaffino.

Callimaco falls in love with Lucrezia, who is married to the notary Nicia. Callimaco convinces the notary to leave her wife just for one night.

Urbino is one of the most important centre of the Italian Renaissance, and it still preserves a huge artistic and historic heritage. For this reason, in 1998, the town of Urbino has declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The symbol of this artistic heritage is the Ducal Palace, which hosts the National Gallery of the Marche. Another important artistic element is the Casa Santi, which was Raphael’s birthplace, and the Urbino Cathedral  which was rebuilt in a neoclassical style. Among religious buildings, there are the Saint Francis Convent built in the XIII century. Urbino has been the set for many movies, an example is The Mandrake. In this movie, the historic centre of Urbino is clearly recognizable.

Welcome to the North (2012) directed by Luca Miniero, starring Claudio Bisio and Alessandro Siani.

Alberto and Mattia have problems with their wives and the situation gets worse when Mattia is forced to move from Naples to Milano for job. As soon as the transfer comes through, he become sad and desperate; the misadventures of the two protagonists begin.  

Piobbico is a municipality located in the Apennines between Umbria and Marche, more specifically it is situated between Monte Nerone (1,526 metres) and Monte Montiego (975 metres),characterized by impressive landscapes. Piobbico has an important historical value, due to the famous Brancaleoni Castle, dating back to the 13^th century. The rectangular courtyard is particularly interesting. For all these peculiarities, Piobbico was the set for some scenes of the movie Welcome to the North by Luca Miniero. The last part of the movie where Alberto (Claudio Bisio) and his friends go to a county fair, is set in Piobbico, where the Brancaleoni Castle, Saint Anthony Square and the typical village are clearly recognizable.

Che dio ci aiuti 3 (2014) directed by Francesco Vicario and Daniela Borsese, starring Elena Sofia Ricci and Francesca Chillemi.

After being forced to leave the Modena’s convent, the Nuns move to Fabriano and Nun Angela began teaching in the high school. Azzurra, Guido and their children Davide also come to the Marche region, but this is not a happy moment for them. Moreover, there is the young Rosa, still unaware of being Notary Leonardi’s daughter and Azzurra’s sister.

The municipality of Fabriano is famous in Italy and in the world, especially because it is one of the most important industrial pole for the paper production by Cartiere Miliani Fabriano; for this reason, in 2013, Fabriano included in the UNESCO Creative Cities list presenting the Crafts and Folk Art. Fabriano is located in the Appennines between Umbria and Marche and is surrounded by mountains, including Monte Cucco and Monte San Vicino, and crossed by Giano stream. Typical architectures of Ascoli are the Oratory of Charity, Saint Francis Loggia (bult in the first half of the 1400) and the majestic Saint Venanzio Cathedral, built in the year 1000 and rebuilt in the first years of the 1600, Town Hall Square, and the medieval Podestà Palace, which one of the best example of gothic architecture of the Marche Region. In 2014, Fabriano was the set for the third season of the TV series produced by Lux Vide for Rai Fiction: Che Dio ci aiuti. The protagonist Nun Angela (Elena Sofia Ricci) wanders for the streets of Fabriano: Town hall square, the Oratory of Charity, and the old Saint Francis Loggia are clearly recognizable,  Cathedral square, and Paper Museum and Regina Margherita gardens, the Frasassi caves.

Serafino (1968) directed by Pietro Germi, starring Adriano Celentano and Francesca Romana Coluzzi.

Serafino is a shepard who takes care of his aunt and uncle’s flock. After returning from the military service, he becomes his Lidia’s lover (his cousin), and Asmara’s lover, who is a prostitute mother of four children. After his aunt’s death, he inherits everything and wants to share his heritage with his friends, but this makes his uncle angry, therefore Serafino changes his mind. At end of the movie, Serafino fixes his complex relationship situation.

Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972) directed by Franco Zeffirelli, starring Graham Faulkner and Judi Bowker.

The movie is about Saint Francis of Assisi’s life, from his departure for the Perugia War to the establishment of the monastic rule, his return home and his religious vocation and the abandonment of all his goods.

Alfredo, Alfredo (1972) directed by Pietro Germi, starring Dustin Hoffman and Stefania Sandrelli.
Alfredo is a shy bank employee, who finally gets married to the woman of his dreams: Mariarosa. However, she turns out to be a possessive and difficult person, making Alfredo’s life hard. During one of his night out, he meet Carolina, who becomes his mistress. Alfredo obtains the divorce, but he has to face once again a marital situation.

Ascoli Piceno, capital of the homonymous province, is an important location because it is surrounded by two protected natural areas: Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park (in the south), and Monti Sibillini National Park (in the north-west). Ascoli is also famous for its suggestive and impressive town centre, which is almost completely made of travertine. Ascoli boasts one of the greatest artistic and architectural heritage: the magnificent People’s Square, built in the Renaissance period and considered as one of the most beautiful squares in Italy. The name of the square is due to the medieval Palace of the People’s Captains whose crenellated tower is close to the well-known Caffè Meletti. Saint Emidio Cathedral and the Saint Emidio’s crypt are important landmarks of Ascoli, as well as Saint Francis Church which is one of the best Italian work of the Franciscan architecture, and the Arengo Palace (overlooking Arringa Square) dating back to the end of the XII century. Therefore, Ascoli has been used  as a location for several films. In 1972, Alfredo, Alfredo was filmed in Ascoli, starring Dustin Hoffman who would become, after 30 years, testimonial of the Marche Region. Pietro Germi directed the future Hollywood star and Stefania Sandrelli in this comedy set in the impressive old town centre, Indignozzi Palace and Ventidio Basso Square, as well as People’s Square, where the Caffè Meletti is clearly recognizable.

Leopardi (2014) directed by Mario Mantone, starring Elio Germano and Michele Riondino.Giacomo Leopardi, a bright boy, lives with his family in his home-library in Recanati. He has a difficult relationship with his father Monaldo. When he is 24 years old, he leaves Recanati, but his medical condition gets worse. In Florence, he meet Antonio Ranieri, who will become his best friend, and Fanny Targioni Tozzetti. He falls in love with her, but she does not return his feelings. For economic reasons, he went to Rome and then to Naples, where the cholera broke out; therefore, he and his best friend went to the slopes of Vesuvius, but his condition gets more serious and death is near.

Thanks to its strategic position, Recanati has impressive landscapes. The town is famous, since it is Giacomo Leopardi’s birthplace; therefore, many places are strictly related to the author of “The Infinite”: Leopardi Palace, the native home of the poet and still occupied by his descendants, and the square of the Saturday night in the Village; the suggestive Hill of Infinite, which is the Monte Tabor from which visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view; Leopardi Square where there is the neoclassical Town Hall dating back to 1800; in the middle of the square there is the monument dedicated to Giorgio Panichi and the Ghibelline Tower (known as Tower of the Village) on which the coat of arms of Recanati and Fermo stand out (dating back to the XIII century) and an old clock. Despite its historic heritage and impressive natural beauty, Recanati has gained the visibility it deserves only in 2014 with the movie Leopardi, which focuses on some aspects of the poet’s life, starring Elio Germano. Thanks to Leopardi’s descendants, it was possible to shoot the movie in Leopardi’s place, such as the Leopardi Palace. Moreover, the historic centre, the gardens and church of Recanati, the Shrine of the Holy House of Loreto, the historic centre of Osimo and the Civic Museums of Buonaccorsi Palace of Macerata are clearly recognizable.