(Cross-posted from my sister site, Reel Travels Magazine.)
This is me, and I’m unexpectedly sitting in Giunti Odeon – Libreria e Cinema, a beautiful movie theater and bookstore, in Florence, Italy. How did this movie buff get here? I have dreamed of going to Italy for more than two decades, but you know how it is – life always gets in the way. The stars finally aligned last year, so I booked a trip to Italy to celebrate my 60th birthday in May. My goal was to step on Italian soil on the morning of my birthday. I did!!!!!
While researching what I wanted to do and visit, I knew I wanted to see an Italian theater and watch a movie, even if I didn’t understand the language. I would spend four days in Rome and saw that there was an old movie theater near my hotel. Unfortunately, by the time I went, I realized that I couldn’t see it during my stay, and I was disappointed. However, sometimes what you don’t plan or get ends up turning into one of the highlights of your trip.
While in Rome, I experienced a flare-up of severe back pain, and by the time I arrived in Florence, I was struggling quite a bit. As a result, I decided to forgo my plans one night and take it easy. I took a stroll through the lovely area around my hotel instead. Lo and behold, right around the corner from the hotel was Giunti Odeon – Libreria e Cinema. I was excited because I love bookstores, but when I went inside, I saw an extra-large movie screen. I looked up and saw theater seats around the outskirts of the second floor. What was this place? Where was I? Oh, and that dome?! Gorgeous! (Pictures below.) I needed to see how stunning it looked at nighttime. I went outside to find the name of the place I was in and saw the poster for Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme. I was in a bookstore AND a movie theater? I was giddy! To make this find even more special, The Phoenician Scheme was playing that night in English. I immediately went back inside and saw the kiosk to buy a ticket. I was going to watch a movie IN ITALY. IN ENGLISH. And again, IN ITALY!!
Gunti Odeon – Libreria e Cinema is gorgeous! According to its history, the lights of the Odeon Cinema, first known as the Cinema Teatro Savoia, were turned on December 14, 1922. You can see how it initially looked on the cover of this book about the cinema. The bookstore now occupies the space downstairs, but what a great way to continue the legacy of the cinema. Here are some additional photos I took:
Just so you know, in case you are able to enjoy a movie here, whether in Italian or English, all movies start at 9 p.m. My ticket cost around 12€, from what I remember. The staff said they had snacks and drinks for sale at their restaurant, but it didn’t seem to be open during my movie. I saw a few other people bring in snacks and a drink, though. There were no trailers for my movie, but I’m not sure if that’s the norm. Additionally, the bookstore closes before the movie begins. There is an elevator to get to the second floor (with movie posters in the windows).
I sat next to a 20-something-year-old young woman who was traveling around Italy for a month with only her backpack. She was from Copenhagen, a place I hope to visit. We shared our stories, and she admired me for taking my solo birthday trip, and I admired her for her three-week backpack-only trip around the entire country. We laughed about how we both describe Wes Anderson’s films as “that was an experience.” At the end of The Phoenician Scheme, we looked at each other and said almost at the same time, “Well, that was an experience.” I wish I had gotten her name and contact info.
I planned to do a lot, but I didn’t plan on a chronic pain flare-up. Even though I altered my plans to give myself some rest, it turned out to be a really nice night. This movie buff was thrilled that I got to watch a movie in an Italian theater! It was something I didn’t expect and something I’m so glad happened. Isn’t that what traveling is all about? Now click on that link to read all about my solo birthday trip!
