Cinecitta is Italy's foremost film studio, founded in 1937 by Mussolini, and used for many iconic Italian and international films. It's now possible to take a tour of the studios, where you get to visit several impressive sets, including 1500s Florence and ancient Rome, and there are interesting exhibitions, one dedicated to the work of Fellini, and another exploring the history of the studios, with some hands-on exhibits, and, most excitingly, an American submarine set.
Originally intended by Mussolini to turn out propaganda pictures, the studios were used during WWII variously as a refugee camp and hospital, but post war they went from strength to strength. In the 1950s many major Hollywood films were made here, including Cleopatra, and Rome became nicknamed Hollywood on the Tiber. This was also to become Fellini's stomping ground – he even had a bedroom here – and La Dolce Vita was filmed in Theatre 5, within which the director re-created Via Veneto. Later, Spaghetti Westerns dominated the schedule, as directors such as Sergio Leone directed films such as A Fistful of Dollars and The Good, the Bad & the Ugly . Recent blockbusters to have been made here include Ben Hur and Zoolander 2 .
