The latest production in WLIW New York’s acclaimed Visions® aerial travel series soars over the rooftops of centuries-old villas and churches, Roman ruins, lush gardens, and the island playlands of Capri and Ischia. Stunning aerial views of Rome, Florence, Naples and their surrounding areas include previously unexplored sites and new perspectives of favorite destinations from past Visions® of Italy specials that will leave even the most seasoned traveler in awe.

The Great Cities begins at the very center of Italian civilization in Rome, a city surrounded by its past and energized by its very urban inhabitants. Traveling along the Appian Way, the helicopter-mounted high definition camera sweeps across the 12-mile, stone Aurelian Wall and the famed Seven Hills of Rome, before lingering over the Campo de’ Fiori, where sidewalk cafes and markets reveal the heart of modern Rome. This is where Romans slow down, sip their espressos and savor the city’s street theater. Following the flow of the Tiber River, the helicopter circles Isola Tiberina, the only island on the river that was originally settled by the Greeks. Across the river find Ponte Sant’Angelo, built by Emperor Hadrian so Romans could visit his final resting place. Less familiar to tourists is the Altar of Peace (Ara Pacis), constructed during a period of peace following the victories of Emperor Augustus. Next, witness thousands of years of history from the sky over the Roman Forum, the ruins of the Temple to Julius Caesar, the House of the Vestal Virgins and the Domed Hall of Romulus.  These new Visions® sites complement favorite destinations like Vatican City, Castel Gandalfo, Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum – all accompanied by new historical narration, and regional and classical music to provide a fresh experience of the eternal city.
From Rome to nearby Tivoli and Florence, originally named Florentia (meaning “flourishing”) by Julius Caesar, who founded the city in 59 BC in the fertile valley of the Arno River to celebrate the triumphs of Rome’s veteran soldiers. Many of Florence’s great treasures are found within her churches, and Visions® captures the vastness and spectacular intricacies of these world-renowned structures. Enjoy the Basilica di San Miniato al Monte, high on a hill overlooking Florence, and the late 13th century Basilica of Santa Croce, the burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli and Rossini. Often called “The Pantheon of Glories,” it is the largest Franciscan sanctuary in the world. Other destinations include the breathtaking dome of Tempio Maggiore – one of Europe’s most beautiful synagogues – and the weathered and angular copper roof of Florence’s central market, Mercato Centrale, home to legendary Tuscan pastas, meats and cheeses.

From the stately beauty of Florence, The Great Cities jets to Naples, Italy’s busiest seaport and chief import/export center. Home to Limoncello liqueur and Lacryma Christi wine, Naples is well-known for its tomato-loving cuisine. The Duomo of Naples, the city’s main church dedicated to its patron saint, San Gennaro, houses a vial of the Saint’s blood. The most famous of several blood liquefaction ceremonies takes place on feast day, September 19, celebrated in the U.S. as an 11-day Italian-American street fair in New York’s Little Italy. Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii and the islands of Ischia and Capri – the jewel of the Bay of Naples – conclude the latest Visions® tour of Italy’s great cities.

Visions® of Italy: The Great Cities – Rome, Florence & Naples is the latest in a long line of WLIW New York productions examining Italian culture, heritage and landscapes. Past productions include Visions® of Italy: Southern Style, Visions® of Italy: Northern Style, Visions® of Sicily, The Italian Americans and its sequel. For more information on WLIW’s Visions® series, visit: visionsof.org.

Sites Visited
Appian Way
Aurelian Wall
Porta San Sebastiano
Vatican City
Saint Peter’s Square
Campo de’ Fiori

Trevi Fountain
Via Veneto
Spanish Steps
Tiber River
Isola Tiberina
Ponte Sant’Angelo
Castel Sant’Angelo
Villa Borghese

Galleria Borghese
Villa Medici
Pyramid of Caius Cestius
Ara Pacis (Altar of Peace)
Basilica of Saint John Lateran
Palatine Hill
Circus Maximus
Baths of Caracalla
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

Victor Emmanuel Monument
Piazza Venezia
Piazza del Popolo
Piazza della Repubblica
Piazza Navona
Pantheon
Piazza del Campidoglio
Roman Forum
Coliseum

Castel Gandolfo
Villa Barberini
Tivoli
Fortress of Rocca Pia
Villa d’Este
Hadrian’s Villa
Arno River
Florence

Pitti Palace
Boboli Gardens
Palazzo Vecchio
Piazza della Signoria
Basilica di Santa Croce
Tempio Maggiore
Ponte Vecchio
Basilica di San Miniato al Monte
English Garden Cemetery

Basilica di Santa Maria Novella
Mercato Centrale di San Lorenzo
Basilica di San Lorenzo
Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore
Piazzale Michelangelo
Naples
Castel del Ovo
Port of Naples
Castel Nuovo

Galleria Umberto
Piazza del Plebiscito
San Francesco di Paola
Royal Palace
Vomero Hill
Sant’Elmo Fortress
Santa Chiara
Duomo of Naples

Piazza Garibaldi
Naples Financial Center
Ischia
Capri
Faraglione
Villa Jovis
Pompeii
Mount Vesuvius

A WLIW New York Production. Executive Producer/Aerial Director: Roy A Hammond. Producer/Writer/Editor: Roman Brygider. Narrator: Ron Pobuda. Presented nationally by WLIW New York. ST and CC.

Dvds/cds of this program available when you support WLIW21.