HOME MOVIES: ROME TO VENICE ITALY ROAD TRIP 1950s

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1950s

Format: 16mm

Description: This well made 16mm silent home movie was made by an unknown American tourist. It contains title cards documenting a trip across Italy. The film unfolds with beautiful imagery of Rome, from the picturesque hilltown of Trevi, through Venice, to the Dolomite mountain range. Each location that appears in the film is introduced by a text card. The silent film starts by introducing the picturesque hilltown of Trevi in "Rome to Venice" (0:08). It then moves to the garden at Fonti del Chilunno, where the Italian poet Carducci wrote 'Umbria Verdi' (0:27). Father Leonard guides us through the monastery of St. Francis at Assizi (0:54). San Marino, a quaint principality, showcases a lively castle auction (1:31). A herd of cattle rest in a field (1:52). At (2:31) a humble neighborhood restaurant, the Albergo, with Cinzano signs is shown. At (3:11) docks or a port with a lighthouse visible in the background. Venice appears as its buildings rise from the sea (4:21). Landmarks like the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua (4:04), San Moise (4:06), and the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore (4:19) are featured. St. Mark’s Square, known for its splendor and calmness, is shown (4:27). Detailed text cards explain the Ambrogio Delle Ancore statue (4:48-5:19), the Golden Stair and palace (5:41), the Basilica's facade (5:53), mosaics (6:06), and the Campanile (6:16). The Bridge of Sighs (7:30), leading to Venice’s Grand Canal (7:47) and concluding with a twilight view of the Lido (8:20). The film continues through the Dolomites (9:13), passing the Brenner Pass sign and the Hotel Vittoria Bolzano (10:42). It wraps up at 11:36, leaving an impression of the beauty of these locations.