Where was Benvenuti al Sud, the film with Claudio Bisio shot? Here are the locations of Castellabate, in Campania, how to find them and why to take a holiday in Cilento. A wonderful village that is worth visiting during a holiday in Campania, read the article.
That of the film tourism it is a type of holiday that has been included in the booklets of numerous agencies. Thanks to the successful television series or the numerous blockbusters set in fabulous locations, there has been a growing demand for "movie destinations"!
A few years ago the revelation film welcome to the South, in addition to consecrating the sympathy of actors such as Claudio Bisio and Alessandro Siani, has also brought to the fore a small Cilento town such as castellabate, making known to the most of the marine hamlets of S. Maria and S. Marco. The film owes its success to the irony with which the contrast between north and south is emphasized.
The choice to shoot in full Cilento I would say was perfectly apt: what comes out are places where life flows "slow" and without stress and, knowing the location well, I can absolutely affirm the mood!
The locations of the film Benvenuti al Sud are located throughout the municipal area, between the sea coast and the city center perched on a hill. The municipality of Castellabate is in full swing National Park of Cilento and, the hilly position it occupies, allows it to dominate from above its beautiful seaside village of Santa Maria di Castellabate, awarded the blue flag of Europe for several years now.
For some time the Municipality of Castellabate, on the wave of notoriety given to it by the film, has created a real tour that allows the visitor to retrace all the settings that appeared in the hilarious film.
THEpost office where the co-star Bisio is transferred, it "should" be found (because in reality it does not exist) in the main square of Castellabate, Piazza 10 October 1123, fulcrum of the life of a typical Cilento village. This is the pretty square for coffee breaks, table football games and the hilarious gags of the film. Today, instead of the post office, the visitor can find a bar whose sign reads the name, mimicking the film, “La Piazzetta“.
Another stop is the magnificent Viewpoint of San Costabile: here, however, the panorama you see in the film is absolutely true! It is in fact a terrace overlooking the sea with a superb view of the seaside villages, the coast of Santa Maria and the islet of Licosa, known for the myth of the sirens. In fact, “Leucosia” is one of the sirens who tempted Ulysses. The whole center of Castellabate is a suggestive intertwining of alleys, stone houses and glimpses that would make the happiness of many IGers as of many door-addicted!
Leaving the perched center and going down towards Santa Maria di Castellabate, the other locations we find are the Perrotti Tower with its promenade and its beach. Here the final scenes of the film took place where Siani declares himself to his colleague and where Bisio makes peace with his wife (played by Angela Finocchiaro) during the town festival, complete with fireworks over the sea.
The most beautiful and evocative location, however, remains the old port of "The cats“, A construction of the XII century that presents itself with very ancient arches where in the past the goods arrived by boats were stored. Despite the really unkempt appearance (but perhaps it is intentional), Le Gatte captures anyone for its “pirate port” charm. Here the funny scene of the dinner among colleagues took place, in which Bisio learns the ABC of the southern dialect. The restaurant is authentic (restaurant Le Gatte in fact): still today you can dine among those ancient stone arches, in a romantic and spectacular atmosphere at the same time, overlooking the marina and the old fishermen boats. The food? A perfect mix of seafood and typical cuisine of the Cilento hinterland.
Beyond the tour in search of the locations of the film representation, a stay in Castellabate can easily turn into a tourist, gastronomic and cultural experience that will mark any traveler. Those who visit Castellabate, like all the rest of Cilento, really suffer the effect that Bisio experienced in the film.
"When a stranger comes to the south he cries twice: when he arrives and when he leaves". This is the phrase that runs through the entire plot of the film and that comes true every time you leave authentic southern locations like this one.
