dcappolino

In the late 1950's Katharine Hepburn made a movie called "Summertime" that was filmed in Venice. She stayed in a beautiful hotel there - wondered if the place still exisited and its name.

francophile03

I believe this is the criteria you should have posted with your Venice hotel request. Maybe someone will know if this place really exists so good luck.

Eloise

I believe it was the Accademia Villa Maravegie, which still exists. But the Piazza San Marco is not visible from it, as the movie would lead you to think.

dcappolino

Thanks for these messages. If I recall the movie, I think the Accademia Villa Maravegie is the same place.

massagediva

It is indeed Pensione Accademia. There is some memoribilia from the film in the hotel.

gailscout

We ate at Ristorante Antico Pignolo last week. It is located about 2 blocks off the square; someone mentioned that one of the restaurant scenes had been filmed here. Now I really want to see that movie!

elaine

Accademia/Villa Maravege

The exteriors of 'Summertime' were filmed there, but not the interior of the rooms. For one thing, the view from the Hepburn character's room was all wrong. Also, the view from the outdoor terrace is not the same, though very charming.

The canal that the Hepburn character fell into is at Campo San Barnaba, as is the location of the corner shop that the Rosanno Brazzi character owned.

kcsqueeze

Watching the movie after our second visit to Venice (staying at the Hotel American on Rio San Vio) we recognized the area from the terrace scene as Campo San Vio in Dorsoduro. When returning to Venice again after seeing this, we found there is actually no terrace closely resembling the one in the movie so maybe it was a set.

Also, the scene where Katherine meets up with "Cookie" (the little boy) on that lovely stone bridge (where he tries to sell her risque postcards)is in Dorsoduro. I can see in my mind how to get there but can't remember the name of the street, maybe Fondamenta Ospedalero? It's in the area behind the Peggy Guggenheim Museum.

On our third visit to Venice we went on a Summertime photo shoot for our scrapbook. While we were at the bridge, we ran into someone else waiting to take a photo as well. Same thing happenend (different people) in Campo San Barnaba.

Apparently this movie has an impact on lots of people.

lyb

I have the DVD and just happened to watch it again this weekend. I didn't take notice of the names of the hotel and location she was at, but sure thought it would be nice to stay at the hotel she stayed in and most likely vey expensive!

Melissa5

I have stayed at the Pensione Accademia Villa Maravegie (spelling?). It's reasonably priced for Venice, surprise! I didn't see Catherine Hepburn's movie so I can't tell you if it will seem anything like the movie.

But I can tell you we loved our room with a view of the charming little garden, and we loved the fact that right outside our room was a public sitting area with antiques and artwork, and since nobody was sitting there when we happened to use it, we felt like it was our own living room! Very nice breakfast buffet as well.

The Pensione Accademia has a wonderful old-fashioned charm and an excellent staff. However, it doesn't seem like a glamorous hotel that movie stars would flock to, if that's what you are imagining.

When I return to Venice someday I will definitely stay there again.

Statia

I have the DVD and love all the fabulous scenes of Venice in the film. I was amazed that we have several photos that include the produce boat at Campo San Barnaba where she fell into the canal. I wonder just how long that boat has been there?

elaine

The idea of a "Summertime" photo shoot makes me smile. I LOVE the film, but that opinion is not shared by many people that I know. Once when I was in Venice with my sister, I was pointing out the little canal at Campo San Barbara, and the only response I got was an eyeroll.

danny52

SUMMERTIME is one of my favorite movies and has created an obsession to travel to Venice ... someday. As a film historian, I've searched high and low for information about the locations used in the movie. According to all sources, the Pensione Accademia is indeed where some filming was done. Not sure exactly where and the photos available of the Pensione today don't match anything in the film. In a book on director David Lean, I learned that the terrace where Hepburn and others sit was indeed built for the film. Lean was horrified to learn that the overzealous carpenters tore it down before the film had been totally completed but luckily he didn't need it again. Excited to read that Campo San Vio may be the location where the set was built. I've memorized that scene that show her looking out to the Grand Canal and then turning back to look in the other direction at a smaller canal with several bridges. Hepburn did not actually stay there but first rented a villa on an island and then eventually moved to a luxury hotel somewhere in Venice. Lean stayed at the Gritti.
The canal where Kate falls in is of course at Campo San Barnaba. The same setting is used in INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE as well as THE ITALIAN JOB and probably countless others.
Hepburn complained from a chronic eye infection for the rest of her life, blaming that fall into the canal. Actually, a recent book reveals that she'd sneak away on a gondola every night and swim in the canals. She swam every day of her life apparently.
When Kate meets little Mauro, he scampers down a wall by some steps to sell her postcards. That same setting is shot from exactly the same angle in Woody Allen's EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU in the scene where Woody meets Julia Roberts on a morning jog.
Check out any book on Katharine Hepburn and David Lean for more info. I know the movie isn't everyone's cup of tea but I'm addicted to it.