La Scarzuola is a rural area in Umbria in the Montegiove hamlet of the municipality of Montegabbione (TR). It is famous for the ancient convent where St. Francis of Assisi lodged and for the city-theatre, conceived and built by architect Tomaso Buzzi (1958-1978), his personal interpretation of the “The Ideal City”. Dug out of the rock, the “ideal borgo” has unusual structures intentionally left unfinished, which are grouped into 7 theatrical settings accessed by three entrance ways and is studded with amphitheatres, acropolis, temples and imaginatively-shaped fountains. Defined “an anthology in stone” by its creator, the borgo contains a wealth of references to famous architectural experiments such as Villa d’Este, the Parthenon, Colosseum, Pantheon, Pyramids, the clock tower of Mantua and many others. Fake ruins, anachronistic and unlikely constructions are justified by the theatrical vocation of the place, which aims at being unmoveable and animated at the same time, while also eternal.
The borgo hosts an amphitheatre, “agnostic theatre”, “grassy theatre”, “broken column tower” and the so-called “theatre of the bees”. More than just an entertaining and imaginative place, La Scarzuola is also a location full of mystery, thanks to the wealth of secret symbols, references and citations it contains.
Fondazione Umbria Film Commission
Via M. Angeloni 61 — 06124 Perugia
Phone: 075-5045878
Email: info@umbriafilmcommission.com
