The elegance and uniqueness of Montecatini Terme’s Art Nouveau style have always fascinated film directors around the world.
In fact, the city’s buildings and streets have been a perfect open-air set for some famous films such as “Oci ciornie” (1987), “Where are you going on vacation?” (1978) and “Camping” (1957), Franco Zeffirelli’s first film.
The temple of cinema
The place where these films were shown was the Cinema Excelsior, a sublime example of the architecture of Ugo Giovannozzi, the Florentine engineer responsible for the renovation of many of the city’s establishments in the early 20th century.
The history of the building
The Excelsior Cinema was renovated by Giovannozzi in 1922. The building was built in a particularly picturesque location near one of Montecatini’s many vanished springs, the so-called “Acqua della Speranza,” and the Birindelli house.
The architectural details
Some details of the Excelsior Cinema testify to Ugo Giovannozzi’s eclectic taste: the refined iron-and-glass canopy and the facade inspired by the Doric order of the Archaic period stand out.
The other works in the city
Going up Viale Verdi, it is possible to admire other buildings that the refined engineer had the merit of renovating, such as the Terme Leopoldine, Terme Tettuccio and Regina, all examples of his architectural mastery that helped define the Art Nouveau identity of Montecatini Terme.
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