Cinecittà, Film production complex in Rome, Italy
Cinecittà is a film studio complex in eastern Rome, covering roughly 100 acres (40 hectares) and housing more than 20 sound stages of different sizes. The complex includes permanent outdoor sets, workshops for scenery and costume construction, and modern post-production rooms.
The studios opened in 1937 under the fascist government to promote Italian cinema and attract international productions. After the war, the site served as a refugee camp until studio operations resumed in the late 1940s.
The name literally means 'Cinema City' in Italian and reflects the original vision of creating a complete production complex under one roof. Visitors can walk through original sets from films like 'Ben-Hur' and 'Cleopatra', which document the golden age of European cinema.
The complex sits roughly 6 miles (9 kilometers) southeast of the city center and can be reached by metro line A to Cinecittà station. A museum displays props, costumes, and sets from famous productions, while guided tours offer glimpses of active filming when no confidential projects are underway.
The rationalist architecture with clean lines and functional facades dates from the 1930s and shows the architectural ideas of that era. Several buildings were repurposed after the war as sets for ancient Rome scenes and have since served as permanent backdrops for historical productions.
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