Montefiascone-City of Wine and Cinema

Est Film Festival, Montefiascone 

The 6th annual Est Film Festival will be held  from  July  21-30  in the charming hill top town of Montefiascone, perched above the Lake of Bolsena in Northern Lazio.

main piazza, Montefiascone

  Staffed  by an enthusiastic group of young professionals  headed by Vaniel Maestosi, the festival  brings a rich program of  films and prizes amounting to 14,000 euro  for  films competing  in several categories. 

Vaniel Maestosi

More than  40 different events and 100 guests  will present encounters and debates  in venues around the city: public piazzas, the Papal fortress, a multisala cinema, the enoteca located inside the papal  palace and even  the papal prisons. 

Montefiascone  also  hosts a craft beer festival this weekend  
July  12-15

One special feature is that the entrance to all events  is completely free thanks to  numerous sponsors. Best to arrive early to be sure of a seat.

the ancient Papal Palace  during film festival

This year American film maker Terry Gilliam is expected as well as  Marco Bellocchio, Gianni Amelio, artistic director of Torino Film Festival  and actresses Laura Morante  and Ambra Angiolini.  

Ambra Angiolini

Laura Morante 

Terry Gilliam

location  Colle di Montisola

during the press conference 

 The success of the Est Film Festival is an ongoing reality, thanks to  teamwork and sinergy with the local authorities and sponsors. 

buffet   at press conference 

When asked what he hopes for the future,   Maestosi  mentioned the possibility of  showing films in their  original language. 

The large English-speaking  community and numerous tourists who summer around the  Lake of Bolsena  would be very happy with this. 

   Considering  the  unspoilt beauty of the landscape (except for   the wind towers near Piansano)  and surroundings, I can see  the area of  Montefiascone as the  perfect  setting for  film troupes year round. 

sunflower  fields  surround Colle di Montisola, Montefiascone

 Here is another story   about  Montefiascone and its  historic international connections. Wouldn't it make a  great film ?  

                                 

Cool Italian and Russian gardens and pools

keeping cool in Pza. S. Egidio 

 The summer heat wave is again upon us... and since we are no longer  youngsters we have had to say "no" to the many invitations and  happenings  this weekend.

When its this hot we get up early (6 a.m.) like the local farmers do then by  10:30 a.m. its time to  stay indoors, behind the wooden shutters (persiane) which along with the  ancient, thick walls keep  the heat out.  

no need for air conditioning 

  A plus  during these hot days is that there are finally  lots of parking spaces, for the town is almost deserted.  Most people head for a  one of the nearby  lakes (Lake Vico, Bolsena  or  Bracciano)  or   perhaps the grassy lawns at this ancient Roman swimming hole.   

This  circular  pool is actually  a frigidarium   dating  from Roman times at  Le Pozze  di San Sisto half way between  Viterbo  and  Vetralla. Its  icy  waters are  balanced  by an  adjacent  hot  pool  caldarium  and another   luke warm  one.   

For    tourists and visitors  here are some  more of  the  coolest places  around: 

• If you  are a cruiser   docking  at  Civitavecchia you  could   trade  a hot, exhausting  day in Rome  for  a visit  to Tarquinia  where the  Etruscan tombs  and   quiet churches  such as  S. Maria in Castello provide  welcome respite.  For  a  glance of  this magnificent church  see  Dietmeyer's website.

fountain in front of Tarquinia's city hall

fountain of  the Moors, Villa Lante, Bagnaia 

River  god  fountain, Villa Lante, Bagnaia
(photo  by John Ferro Sims) 

• Garden lovers  will love   the historic gardens of Villa Lante  where  the  trickle of  fountains  and  mossy pools  give  welcome  relief from the heat. 

grotto , Villa Lante 

water gurgles  down the rope fountain, Villa Lante

 In  the hill town of  Soriano nel Cimino another   fountain comes  complete with a   waterfall. Perfect  for  a cool walk  is  the   Faggetta, the mountain top  forest located   above  Soriano.

Papacqua   waterfall, Soriano nel Cimino

 Here are a few of the  romantic, cool spots I have enjoyed  discovering  in these past  years while lecturing aboard cruise ships.  

• in Montenegro the fiord   (Bocche  di Cattaro) leading  up to  the  port of  Kotor. 

•  The gardens of Peterhof,  outside the city  of  St. Petersburg , Russia are another perfect  place to catch some coolness. 

  

  Grand Cascade and canal to  the gulf of Finland, Peterhof, St. Petersburg, Russia

  The majestic fountains and gardens  overwhelm visitors
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Peterhof fountain, St. Petersburg , Russia 

  
  

  

  the Pyramid fountain, Peterhof gardens, St. Petersburg, Russia

• Oia on the  Greek  island  of Santorini is famed for its  whitewashed  houses  and blue domed churches 

The  same  turquoise color  can be found here  in Vetralla in a   romantic  pool  inside  a grotto. 

a private pool half in, half out of  a grotto 

 Read more about our local wash house on  my article on  Italian Notebook