The series, which is filmed in Bassano, Marostica, Costabissara, Schiavon, Montegalda, Paderno del Grappa, Crespano del Grappa, Breganze, Fara Vicentino and Padua, centres around the affairs of two families of distillers in Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza). The Poli Distillerie, where they still distill using artisan methods and an old steam alembic, made its artisan facilities available for filming. Here family patriarch Giovanni Franza and his eldest daughter Maria Teresa distill grappa using the alembics of the founder, GioBatta Poli. The signs on the Poli Distillerie were replaced with signs bearing the fictitious name of “Distilleria Franza & Figlio” (in the 1980s, at the end of the story, the name is changed to “Sorelle Franza” (lit. “Franza Sisters”), as proof of the emancipation of the women in the family). As well as the barrel cellar, the offices of the distillery were also made available for filming, complete with their original period furnishings. The Distillerie Sartori, opened by Enrico Sartori after falling out with his former business partner Franza, was reconstructed at the Distillerie Schiavo, which is located in Costabissara, near Vicenza. Both distilleries are open to the public, and the latter is home to a small museum dedicated to the production of grappa.
A number of locations in Bassano del Grappa are recognisable, starting with the Ponte Vecchio in the opening sequence, a well-known monument of the city which is covered in wood. It was first built in 1209 and has been destroyed on several occasions by floods and during wars. Its current appearance is the work of architect Andrea Palladio, and dates back to 1569.
On the banks of the river Brenta we find the protagonists as youngsters: it was here that a scene in which Elena dances sinuously to the notes of “La bambola” by Patty Pravo was shot.
The bus stop was set up in piazza Terraglio, in the centre of Bassano: Maria Teresa waits here for the bus that takes her to university for the first time, and Franca for the bus that takes her to see her lover Jorge.
During lunch at ristorante da Ottone, which actually exists in Bassano, Giovanni Franza and his business partner have the mayor taste their new grappa, which will make them rich.
Piazza Libertà is home to the “Cose Belle” tailor’s, which is owned by Pina and is where she and Franca share their secrets. Not far away, still in the piazza, is the church of San Giovanni, attended by Franca.
She sees Jorge again years later in the cloister of the Civic Museum, at the welcoming party for the Brazilian delegation. It is in the Civic Museum that the first of their illicit encounters takes places, continuing in Marostica, a town famous for its human chess game. Shots of the town feature its lower castle, its higher castle (home to a restaurant) and the streets in the centre, whilst the hotel featured in the series doesn’t actually exist.
The series, which is filmed in Bassano, Marostica, Costabissara, Schiavon, Montegalda, Paderno del Grappa, Crespano del Grappa, Breganze, Fara Vicentino and Padua, centres around the affairs of two families of distillers in Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza). The Poli Distillerie, where they still distill using artisan methods and an old steam alembic, made its artisan facilities available for filming. Here family patriarch Giovanni Franza and his eldest daughter Maria Teresa distill grappa using the alembics of the founder, GioBatta Poli. The signs on the Poli Distillerie were replaced with signs bearing the fictitious name of “Distilleria Franza & Figlio” (in the 1980s, at the end of the story, the name is changed to “Sorelle Franza” (lit. “Franza Sisters”), as proof of the emancipation of the women in the family). As well as the barrel cellar, the offices of the distillery were also made available for filming, complete with their original period furnishings. The Distillerie Sartori, opened by Enrico Sartori after falling out with his former business partner Franza, was reconstructed at the Distillerie Schiavo, which is located in Costabissara, near Vicenza. Both distilleries are open to the public, and the latter is home to a small museum dedicated to the production of grappa.
A number of locations in Bassano del Grappa are recognisable, starting with the Ponte Vecchio in the opening sequence, a well-known monument of the city which is covered in wood. It was first built in 1209 and has been destroyed on several occasions by floods and during wars. Its current appearance is the work of architect Andrea Palladio, and dates back to 1569.
On the banks of the river Brenta we find the protagonists as youngsters: it was here that a scene in which Elena dances sinuously to the notes of “La bambola” by Patty Pravo was shot.
The bus stop was set up in piazza Terraglio, in the centre of Bassano: Maria Teresa waits here for the bus that takes her to university for the first time, and Franca for the bus that takes her to see her lover Jorge.
During lunch at ristorante da Ottone, which actually exists in Bassano, Giovanni Franza and his business partner have the mayor taste their new grappa, which will make them rich.
Piazza Libertà is home to the “Cose Belle” tailor’s, which is owned by Pina and is where she and Franca share their secrets. Not far away, still in the piazza, is the church of San Giovanni, attended by Franca.
She sees Jorge again years later in the cloister of the Civic Museum, at the welcoming party for the Brazilian delegation. It is in the Civic Museum that the first of their illicit encounters takes places, continuing in Marostica, a town famous for its human chess game. Shots of the town feature its lower castle, its higher castle (home to a restaurant) and the streets in the centre, whilst the hotel featured in the series doesn’t actually exist.
Bibi Film, Rai Fiction
The story of the Franza family, a Venetian patriarchal family, told through the great historic changes that led women to fight for equality and civil rights.
