Reviews, “Bellissima”: in Visconti’s villa in Ischia between theatre, cinema and literature

The location is the Colombaia, Luchino Visconti's historic summer residence, in Forio, on the island of Ischia, and the name is 'Bellissima', like the iconic film shot in 1951 by the Milanese director: it is a festival that, throughout the summer, from July 1st to September 20th, includes a series of events ranging from theater to music, from cinema to literature. Under the artistic direction of Annamaria Punzo, 'Bellissima 2025' will be inaugurated on July 1st by the talk "Visconti and Tomasi: Il Gattopardo, il romanzo di un Paese": Andrea Di Consoli and Andrea Covotta will interview the president of the Venice Biennale, Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, to investigate the connections between novels, cinematographic works and society. The festival will continue on Sunday, July 6th with a special evening dedicated to Ornella Muti: "Racconti di cinema", a sound and narrative journey that will retrace the actress's career. The rich program includes appointments with Michele Placido, Peppe Lanzetta, Marco Zurzolo, Maurizio De Giovanni, Ruggero Cappuccio and then theatrical performances, book presentations, itinerant tours, concerts and even classical dance shows. As part of Bellissima 2025 there will also be a satellite event dedicated to the world of publishing: 'Libraia', with readings, installations, meetings and the presence of independent publishers, as well as a special tribute to Eva Kant. It will take place from 11 to 13 July at the Cloister of San Francesco and along the historic street of the town. "With this event - says the mayor of Forio, Stani Verde - we affirm a political and cultural objective: the reopening of Villa La Colombaia as a symbolic and real place of the rebirth of Forio", with the ultimate goal of "making it a stable garrison of the culture and identity of our territory". The administration intends to “build a continuous, articulated and participatory cultural season over time,” adds the councilor responsible for culture, Davide Laezza. And “the reopening of the Colombaia is the first step in this broader project.” “At Villa La Colombaia, a place deeply linked to the cultural and cinematographic memory of our country, we try to intertwine thought and memory, art and care. It is a bet on the meaning of culture today,” says Annamaria Punzo, artistic director of the event.”