Brown Demonised
It would be fair to say that Dan Brown is not the Vatican’s favourite author. It’s described his books, particularly The Da Vinci Code, as blasphemous, saying they turn the Gospels upside down.
So it came as no surprise when the Vatican authorities refused to allow the makers of the latest Brown film, Angels and Demons, to film in St Peter’s Square. Father Marco Fibbi, spokesman for the Diocese of Rome, said at the time: “Normally we read the script, but this time it was not necessary. The name Dan Brown was enough.”
That left the film company with a problem, which it solved by having a team of people posing as tourists and taking thousands of photos and hours of video footage. These were then used to help digital effects experts recreate many of the famous papal buildings, Tuscan colonnades, fountains and monuments within St Peter’s Square.
The new film again stars Tom Hanks as symbologist Robert Langdon. It’s set for release around the middle of this month.
by Andy Moreton
If you’re planning on visiting the Eternal City and the Vatican, take a look at Luxique’s wide selection of luxury Rome hotels.
