English Patient - where was it filmed?
Jul 24th, 2005, 04:32 PM
#2
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The exterior of the church was filmed in Pienza, but the frescoes were a reproduction based, I think, on Piero della Francesca's Holy Cross cycle in the church of San Francesco in Arezzo. The convent scenes were filmed at Sant'Anna in Camparena (or something like that), a tiny spot in Tuscany.
Jul 24th, 2005, 05:12 PM
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Being a big believer in "teach a man to fish"... here is (an example of how to use) a useful resource, if you like to pursue movie filming locations in your travels:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116209/locations
Best wishes,
Rex
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116209/locations
Best wishes,
Rex
Jul 24th, 2005, 07:28 PM
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Some of it was filmed from the garden of the house we rented in April, Villa nell'Oliveto in Castelmuzio, north of PIenza. Check it out at www.intuscany.com. From the pool area it was possible to look across the valley to Sant' Anna Camprena, the small abbey where filming took place. It's possible to stay there, but we were unable to see any of the rooms.
Jul 24th, 2005, 10:39 PM
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The frescoes in question are, as Eliose points out, Piero della Francesco's True Cross cycle in Arezzo. (They were reproduced for the movie.) They are not at all hidden and well worth a visit: One of the greatest works of the Renaissance. Arezzo is about two hours by train from Florence.
PS, Try to read the section in the book that the movie was based on about the viewing of the frescoes. The movie's depiction was good, but Ondaatje's prose is magical!
PS, Try to read the section in the book that the movie was based on about the viewing of the frescoes. The movie's depiction was good, but Ondaatje's prose is magical!
Jul 25th, 2005, 04:45 AM
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Last year we really enjoyed doing the 'Piero della Francesca Trail', from Arrezzo (stayed the night & liked it a lot) to Monterchi to Sansepolcro (had lunch there) & over the 'Mountains of the Moon' to Urbino (stayed the night). It is supposed to be possible to do it in one day. The church in Arrezzo opens at 9am - at least, it did in June last year, & you pay to get into the chapel where the frescoes are.
Jul 25th, 2005, 06:00 AM
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3 years ago we stayed in Pienza and we visited Santa Anna in Camprena, where The English Patient was filmed. We could visit the garden and some rooms with frescoes, which were very interesting. The place is nice and now, I think, it's a place where you can stay to learn Italian.
A little bit in the north you find the monastery of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, which has a cloister with frescoes by Sodoma really fascinating. It's worth a visit.
We stayed also a week in the Chianti and tried to visit the villa where Much ado about nothing (the film by Kenneth Branagh was filmed). It's a kind of hotel and it was impossible to have a look (only from the road).
A little bit in the north you find the monastery of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, which has a cloister with frescoes by Sodoma really fascinating. It's worth a visit.
We stayed also a week in the Chianti and tried to visit the villa where Much ado about nothing (the film by Kenneth Branagh was filmed). It's a kind of hotel and it was impossible to have a look (only from the road).
Jul 25th, 2005, 06:31 AM
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The movie was filmed in several locations in Italy and N. Africa, but the scenes in theold country villa was at Santa Anna---about 8 miles north of Pienza. here is my Bella Italia gallery which includes a shot of Santa Anna. That drive north of Pienza and up to Castelmuzio is one of my favs in Tuscany. The Capella shots are just off S-146 near where the road goes north to Santa Anna. Enjoy !
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/23970/index.html
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/23970/index.html
Jul 25th, 2005, 08:17 AM
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<<if you knew of a website listing locations for many films, not just the one, I would take the bait!>>
Hmmm... I was thinking that just looking at the page listed above, it would be more obvious, but maybe not... locate any film on www.imdb.com - - then in the lefthand frame, see "Filming Locations"? Click on that. If they know any locations info, it will be listed there.
Hmmm... I was thinking that just looking at the page listed above, it would be more obvious, but maybe not... locate any film on www.imdb.com - - then in the lefthand frame, see "Filming Locations"? Click on that. If they know any locations info, it will be listed there.
Feb 28th, 2006, 04:52 PM
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We visited Sant'Anna in Camprena on a sunny Sunday afternoon...the countryside surrounding the church was spectacular...we were thrilled to discover we were the only two people there and walked through the church and all around the grounds..such beauty and serenity..we sat in the garden for a long while, not even speaking, just overwhelmed with the quiet and the peacefulness...alongside was a very small cemetary...I still remember very well the gravesite of a young woman named Giovanna, covered everywhere with rosemary..for remembrance...
Feb 28th, 2006, 06:46 PM
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Another fan of Santa Anna in Camprena. Agree with Alex - it's easy to see if you combine it with a trip to Monte Oliveto Maggiore. Santa Anna also has a fresco cycle by Sodoma in its refectory - a great complement to the Saint Benedict cycle by Signorelli and Sodoma at Oliveto.
Mar 1st, 2006, 07:01 AM
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According to one of the documentaries on the special edition dvd, some of the "Cairo" scenes were actually filmed on the Venice Lido! Including the exteriors of "Shepheard's Hotel."
