A night to go back in time, and feel like you’re in ancient Rome, surrounded by a special setting: it’s possible with Roma On Fire, the new evening live show that will be staged inside the Roma World theme park.

One can take a trip back in time 2,000 years by traveling only 25 kilometers / 15 miles. This is the distance that separates the center of the capital city – or rather the Colosseum – from the Roma World theme park.

Since June 1st and throughout the summer, the Roma World theme park, dedicated to ancient Rome, will feature a show that will transport guests back in time, into the atmospheres of films such as “Gladiator” and other historical films.

Immersed in the majestic setting of the film set of Ben Hur, a multi-awarded blockbuster with 11 Oscars, a faithful reproduction of the Circus Maximus, spectators will be able to witness a challenge full of passion and action that celebrates the Empire, through the exploits of its protagonists.

This is the plot of the show: General Massimo, the protagonist of the show, having just returned to Rome from the victorious campaigns in the provinces, discovers that his beloved has been captured and enslaved. He begs the Emperor for grace, who is willing to grant it in the face of the harshest trials. Massimo will fight, risking his life, against dangerous gladiators, just for love.

The Roma On Fire evening is an experience that begins with a visit to the Legionaries’ village, surrounded by nature, inside the Roma World park, and continues with the typical dinner in Taberna, and its Gladiator’s Menu, the show live and, for those who want to experience it to the full, the possibility of spending the night in a tent in the Castrum, or the legionaries’ camp.

Roma On Fire is included in the Roma World theme park, the second park created and opened by Cinecittà World. Roma World is the experience park where guests experience a day like Ancient Romans, including gladiator shows, falconry shows, nature trails, alone or with the botanical tour, shopping in the Ancient Market, games for children and contact with farm animals.

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From Sorrentino’s Pope to the Gucci family according to Ridley Scott:  costumes worn by Jude Law, Jared Leto and Salma Hayek are now on display at Cinecittà Shows Off.

The twinkle of armor from Game of Thrones, the riotous elegance of House of Gucci and the overblown papal style of The Young Pope are ready to peep out at visitors to Cinecittà Shows Off as it marks Spring 2022 with a truly memorable change of scene.

For the first time, Cinecittà Shows Off has reorganized its selection of original costumes and accessories to create a journey within the journey that will take the visitor through the historical eras of film, analyzing key moments in the development of audio-visual production, from the sword and sandal genre to long-running series for television, and bearing witness to the international acclaim for generations of Italian costume designers.

The display includes costumes designed by Gabriella Pescucci (1 Oscar, 2 Emmy, 2 Bafta, 2 David, 4 Ciak d’oro, 1 Goya, 8 Nastri d’argento), Carlo Poggioli (1 Globo d’oro) and Massimo Cantini Parrini (5 David, 1 European Film Award, 4 Nastri d’argento), produced by famous costumiers such as Costumi d’arte Peruzzi, Sartoria Tirelli, and Sartoria Farani who provided the outfits.

Visitors are greeted by a display that demonstrates the expertise of the artisans who work behind the scenes to make films realistic with their creations:  a collection of props that includes (among others) helmets from The Name of the Rose (1986), armor from Game of Thrones (2011-2019), the amusing animal masks from Dolittle (2020) and necklaces from Freaks Out (2021).  All kindly loaned by E. Rancati, scenic warehouse.

An embroidered purple silk shantung outfit and a green silk costume worn by Elizabeth Taylor in Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s Cleopatra (1963) inaugurate the new exhibition route, positioned beside props from Ancient Egypt created by the artisans of Cinecittà for the TV series Rome (2005-2007). Designed by Irene Sharaff who won a Best Costume Oscar for the film, these dresses are a prime example of the enormous output of Italian costumiers in the 1950s and 60s.

Meanwhile, the Queen of Longtrellis’ costume was worn by a contemporary diva, Salma Hayek, in Matteo Garrone’s Tale of Tales (2015):  a dreamy red satin creation with a long train, priceless embroidery and black lace, designed by Massimo Cantini Parrini, Best Costume Design Oscar nominee for Cyrano (2022).

Moving on, Lucrezia Borgia’s gold organza outfit with jacquard inserts, worn by Holliday Grainger in Neil Jordan’s TV series The Borgias (2011-2013), was designed by Gabriella Pescucci.

Keeping this outfit company in the adjacent cabinet is the cope (a long liturgical cape) used in Paolo Sorrentino’s The Young Pope (2016), a triumph of crystal beads and embroidery.  Worn by Jude Law as Pope Pius XIII, this was a key costume in the series.  For his design, Carlo Poggioli researched medieval vestments and those worn by Pope Benedict XVI who favored authentic 19^th century copes, vintage cassocks and headgear.

To mark the year celebrating the centenary of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s birth, two costumes from his segment (Che cosa sono le nuvole?) in the film Caprice Italian Style (1968) pay tribute to the poet-director: made in jute, they were designed by Jürgen Henze and worn by Adriana Asti and Totò.

The display route continues with pieces used in recent films:  from Mario Martone’s The King of Laughter (2021) are the striped cotton robe worn by Toni Servillo as Eduardo Scarpetta and a day outfit of embroidered white blouse and wool skirt worn by Cristiana Dell’Anna as Luisa De Filippo, mother of the celebrated Titina, Eduardo and Peppino. The costumes were designed by Ursula Patzak who won a “La Pellicola d’oro” Award for her work on the film.

Hollywood, care of Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci (2021) shot in part at Cinecittà Studios, provided the striped beige velvet suit worn by an unrecognizable Jared Leto as Paolo Gucci. A bona-fide identikit for the character, it has a pink twin presently on display at the Museum of Academy Awards in Los Angeles.  There is also a printed cotton summer dress worn by Salma Hayek as Pina Auriemma, Patrizia Reggiani’s friend and self-styled psychic. The outfit was particularly flamboyant when paired with multiple gold chains and gemstone necklaces, reproduced by Pikkio like all the jewelry on display.  The costumes were designed by Janty Yates.

The display closes with a costume worn by another eternal diva, book ending the route in a sort of conversation between Liz Taylor and Monica Vitti:  the mini-dress embellished with gems and sequins worn by the latter in Ninì Tirabusciò – La donna che inventò la mossa (1970) by Marcello Fondato. Typical of early 20^th century cabarets, the costume designed by Adriana Berselli was famous for its use in a scene where the Roman actress, who died recently, invents a shake of the hips that becomes the titular “move”.

This worthy tribute best demonstrates the goal of costume designers:  using the quality of fabric and the expertise of design, rather than corporal dynamism, to revive unforgettable performances in the viewer’s memory.

Cinecittà is open daily (except Tuesday) from 10 am to 6 pm. General admission is $15. Starting April 1^st, guided tours of the sets in English will be available every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11.30 am.

Cinecittà Studios
Via Tuscolana 1055
00173 Rome
https://cinecittasimostra.it/en/exhibition-and-sets

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