Ok, I had to look this one up too.

I think the movie is Atonement (I've not seen it or read the novel but have heard of it obviously). So I think the place is Surrey Hills.

And right you are!

This is an easy one, I think.

What's one early name of this very popular city?

The early name I'm thinking of has 6 letters, and the 2nd letter is "u" in Surrey.

One of the attractions in this city has the city's early name as part of its name. The attraction is a ruin.

Lutece?

Yes, Lutece for Paris!

I think this may be an easy one for Americans, but it will keep things moving.

Tuscan born merchant, grape grower, physician, politician, writer of political articles and documents, Virginian, and friend of Thomas Jefferson as well as of other early US presidents.

First name: 7 letters
Surname: 6 letters, and the penultimate letter is the "e" from Lutece.

I Googled, and there's a candidate whose first name has 6 letters. Is this the one you're thinking of? The first name can have one "l" or two "l"s in it. Were you thinking about two "l"s?

It's seven letters in the language of his birthplace, but either six or seven letters when Americanized. I had the original spelling in mind.

Filippo Mazzei?

Yes. I confess that yesterday I just gave the same clue (but in Italian) in the same type of game being played on the Italian language forum. If you know Italian, I'll give you the link and you can play there if this thread peters out.

I think that you might have given me the link once before. But I don't know Italian.

Here's the next clue:

This type of tree appears in the names of a famous museum and of a famous avenue (and no doubt in other places). The museum and the avenue I'm thinking of are in two separate (but neighboring) countries.

Six letters and the first letter is "l" from Filippo.

I scrolled up to check some of the previous clues I gave. I can't even get some of those clues. Chuckle.

Guessing: Linden

I just googled and confirmed my answer, so will make up a new clue.

***********************


He is believed to be the founder of a tiny and very old (still existing) republic.

His name (one word) has 7 letters. The 4th is the "i" from Linden.

t

cmt, you got it right of course.

Musuem is Unterlinden (Colmar).
Avenue is Unter den Linden (Berlin).

I'm busy with trip research so I'm not working on the puzzle.

Marino (San Marino); I know it's only 6 letters but thought I'd take a wild guess.

You're on the right track. Now you just need to find the name of the person.

Marinus?

I just googled it, thanks to grandmere's clue.

Grandmere - you deserve the credit. you take the next one.

(assuming that it's the right answer)

Yes, it's Marinus. I think Grandmere was just about to get it in another minute.