Overview
Brescello, Peppone and Don Camillo
Films, foods and legends on the banks of the Po River
Anyone who is familiar with the black-and-white movies of Peppone and don Camillo cannot see the church in Brescello without hearing the movie theme song in his head.
Brescello is exactly as you imagine it, calm and sleepy in the summer, shrouded in the misty Po Valley atmosphere in the winter! In the main square, the statues of the two eternal rivals are a beautiful tribute to the characters: don Camillo, the Catholic parish priest is on the parvis of his church, and Peppone, the Communist mayor is in front of the town hall. They smile at each other and greet. It is the eternal representation of what, despite all their differences, was a wonderful friendship!
The museum
Not far from the main square, in a side street, you’ll find the museum dedicated to the films. It is a collection of memorabilia and photos from the set, and it is a pleasure to discover what happened behind the scenes, to see the legendary bicycles of Peppone and Don Camillo, the paraphernalia, the costumes... For a few hours, you become part of that world and feel like a child again. An elderly man wanders through the rooms of the museum, occasionally approaching visitors and telling his story. Yes: this gentleman was one of the children who sang in the choir that Don Camillo lined up to welcome the Bishop on one of his many adventures!
The film festival
The Brescello Film Festival features tributes to its icons, screenings of films belonging to the history of cinema, screenings of premiere films and presentation of new projects. Three days of good films, debates, interviews to personalities from the world of the show business and the cinema, previews and workshops. The festival was conceived by Max Berni with Jessica Guarino, Humnah Kalid and Associazione Non Solo don Camillo.
Legend has it that on the night before St. John's Day, no one went home: people stayed awake “to catch the dew”, which was believed to cure illnesses and boost new loves! St. John’s Dew was also decisive for the preservation of medicinal herbs, and above all for the Nocino, the typical liqueur made from walnuts. Walnuts had to be picked on that very night, when they were moist with St. John's dew!
Brescello is exactly as you imagine it, calm and sleepy in the summer, shrouded in the misty Po Valley atmosphere in the winter! In the main square, the statues of the two eternal rivals are a beautiful tribute to the characters: don Camillo, the Catholic parish priest is on the parvis of his church, and Peppone, the Communist mayor is in front of the town hall. They smile at each other and greet. It is the eternal representation of what, despite all their differences, was a wonderful friendship!
Credit to: Arbalete
42041 Brescello RE, Italia
