"If we want everything remains the same, everything must change." And 'This is one of the key phrases of "The Leopard", a film by Luchino Visconti, a work that has marked the history of Italian and international cinema. The book is the mirror of the Sicilian reality, beautiful and magnificent illustration of the nineteenth-century dream of the great director, who relives the past in a artifact present.

The opulent atmosphere of the grand ball will be recalled in a grand finale at the end of the Festival Luchino Visconti Forever (July 10 to August 7), on August 6 in an exceptional location. The appointment is in Forio, in the amphitheater of the villa La Colombaia, natural setting of greenery, the historic summer residence of the Master.

Twenty pairs of students of nineteenth-century dances will hover like Claudia Cardinale and Burt Lancaster accompanied by the orchestra conducted by Maestro Luca Iacono, thanks to the direction of Bruno Garofalo and customs of Mariagrazia Nicotra. "Because Luchino Visconti is essentially always music", remembers the musicologist Sergio Segalini, artistic director of the Festival.

Memorable soundtrack by Nino Rota accompanies the ballroom scene, filmed at the Palazzo Gangi, in Palermo.

Light, sound, color. Tapestries, mirrors and non-artificial lighting of thousands of candles, spent thirty-six days of shooting and earned the Best Art Direction Silver Ribbon.

The general coordinator of the event, Massimo Bottiglieri, with Nicola Savio and Antonio Castaldi have announced La Colombaia a monument 'immersed' in the Renaissance age. There will be also appearances in uniform. Guests will be offered a drink inspired by the music delicacies re-watching on the big screen as the timbale of macaroni.

Immersed in the wood of Zaro, the Villa has always a location of rare charm and beauty. A magic donated by the whiteness of white that stands out in the lush green spot. It is beautiful lost and find themselves in this fascinating place: in the wide open spaces, before the amphitheater and after down the stairs, upstairs, to reach the Literary Cafe.

In agreement with the Superintendent, the old glass elevator of the building, now disused, was reused to bright with colors the counter, while the upper part was decorated with tiles found during the renovation.

A permanent and old photograph exhibition hands over to posters, sketches, scripts and costumes, while doors and windows with pointed arches reminiscent blue frame and picturesque view, overlooking the sea and the rocky coast.

It is nice to browse among the shelves of the Literary Cafe. Exposed, stacked and on display there are Italian and foreign qualifications concerning the great director and that the La Colombaia Foundation has been collecting. On the sofa in brown leather, lovely antique pieces, some publications like "Tempo", "Domenica del Corriere" and "Epoca".

It is therefore the villa in the spotlight that has remained for many years in the deterioration and abandonment, at the mercy of vandals. Since it was acquired by the public property of the municipality of Forio, under the chairmanship of Mayor Franco Regine, the Foundation continues to work to bring dignity to a place of a global interest, to make it a point of reference for the culture, training, art and communication in the sign of Luchino Visconti.

Not everyone knows, for example, that since 2003 the ashes of the Master rest in the garden of the villa where he cultivated beautiful hydrangeas, a will of the director satisfied twenty-seven years after his death.

Luchino Visconti's The Forever Festival has enriched its programme with a series of interesting events such as " Leggere il cinema di Visconti " with Lucianna De Falco, a trip of three events, in collaboration with Gaspare Di Stefano, Gianluca and Laura Castagna Jacobbi. The staged reading of the great movie, accompanied by pictures and music from films like "Death in Venice", "Beautiful" and "Rocco and His Brothers" has captured public and press. Even the 150 anniversary of the event, projections, and cultural events that have get under way on May, have not gone unnoticed.

In the peace of this place which combines a refuge and an amazing film location, you have to just close your eyes, open them to feel the big ball, just like Angelica.

Opening of the Villa and the Literary Cafe:

Tuesday to Sunday

10:00 to 13:00 / 16:00 - 20:00 / Closed on Mondays

admission 5.00 € / residents free

Discount for Artecard Campania Ischia holders

Shuttles from the port of Forio

www.fondazionelacolombaia.it

www.fondazionelacolombaia.it