This color film from 1959 was produced for Pan American by Coleman Productions. Its subtitle, “The Land of Enchanted Fountains” is exemplified by different fountains (:46-1:50). A Pan Am Boeing 707 Clipper Jet (2:15) flies over the Roman Colosseum (2:19-29), dating back to A.D. 70. We fly over St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican (2:30) before viewing at ground level (2:35-3:05). Underground springs fuel different fountains (3:24-4:12). A man on a Vespa (4:12) calls for a pretty woman. A police officer in white directs traffic (4:40) to the Piazza del Campo de Fiori (4:55). Next is the Victor Emmanuel II marble monument in Piazza Venezia (5:10), the Spanish Steps that lead up to the Trinita dei Monti Church (5:28-5:41), and the Baths of Caracalla (6:17). The giant marble head, feet, and hands of the Colossus of Constantine is another destination (6:35-6:56). The Forum was once the heart of the city (7:00). There are marketplaces on the Via Condotti selling copper (8:00), vegetables (8:05), leather purses (8:12), handwoven straw hats (8:15), and custom dresses out of handwoven silk (8:21-8:34). Food is served at various Italian restaurants (8:39-9:21). The streets are quiet after lunch for an hour of siesta (9:46). A sunlit terrace oversees the blue water of the Mediterranean as people look through a tower viewer (10:24) on the Island of Capri (10:35). Below, the beach and water are full of people, kayaks, and small boats (10:40). A woman wears a tiny 1959 style bikini as they join others at the pool (10:42). Others enjoy waterskiing and boating (10:56-11:22). Dancers in costume entertain along the Amalfi Coast (11:27), as hillside fishing villages lead down to the Mediterranean (11:45). The ports are full of fishing boats (12:07), where fishermen repair their nets (12:22). Yachts and sailboats are enjoyed at Portofino (12:41-13:43). The ruins of Pompeii (13:45) have remnants of walls and statues. A team of oxen plow the earth as grapes and olives are carried on loaded carts (14:17-14:45). The ruins at Tuscany tower over the fortress towns of the Middle Ages (14:54-15:25), such as Perugia and Spoleto. A woman carries freshly baked bread on a tray on her head (15:36). The San Francesco Monastery overlooks the Umbrian Plain (16:10) and we also visit the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi with its bell tower (16:17-17:00). Florence is known as the “city of flowers” (17:13); its oldest bridge is the Ponte Vecchio (17:42). Goldsmiths and silversmiths still make jewelry (17:48-18:12). The Gates of Paradise in the Baptistry of Florence were created by Ghiberti between 1425 and 1452 (19:00-19:25). Festivals are enjoyed by the locals (19:46-21:38), including the Palio di Siena, a horse race through the streets (21:41-22:22). A cable car can be taken to view the Dolomites, the Italian Alps (22:55-23:30), that oversee mountain lakes (23:55). Venice is known for its gondolas (24:19-26:27). The Piazza San Marco (26:30), St. Mark’s Square, has a moving bell clock (27:21) and was admired by Napoleon for its beauty (28:01).
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