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You are here: Charming VillagesRaito, 1959: "Cerasella" and the Bride’s Escape to the Sea
Written by (Massimiliano D'Uva), Monday, January 20, 2025 9:12:24 AM
In the heart of Raito, a hamlet of Vietri sul Mare, the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie became the backdrop for one of the most iconic scenes in Italian cinema in 1959. It was October of that year when, among the picturesque streets of the Amalfi Coast, the film Cerasella, directed by Raffaello Matarazzo, was being shot.
A scene that remains vivid in collective memory shows wedding guests looking on from the church's staircase as the young bride flees toward the sea. Cerasella, played by a lively Claudia Mori in her cinematic debut, is a carefree and rebellious girl who, about to marry the timid Alfredo, decides to run away at the last moment. Her escape leads her onto a small boat, where she meets a young man named Bruno, played by a very young Mario Girotti, later known to the world as Terence Hill.
Filmed largely in October and November of 1959, Cerasella is a true homage to the beauty of the Amalfi Coast. Directed by Matarazzo and inspired by the hit song of the same name, the film takes viewers back to a time when Vietri and its villages reflected timeless authenticity.
The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Raito, with its imposing architecture and breathtaking views of the sea, was one of the film's main locations. In addition to Claudia Mori and Terence Hill, the cast brought to life a story that is simple yet profound, woven with themes of love, rebellion, and reconciliation.
Watching those scenes today feels like traveling back in time. Cerasella is not just a film but a living portrait of an era, a connection between Italian cinema and the Amalfi Coast. The bride's escape toward the sea, followed by the astonished gazes of the wedding guests, remains a symbol of the freedom and beauty that define Vietri sul Mare.
Anyone strolling through Raito today can imagine that escape, that moment when cinema intertwined with everyday life, transforming a small village into a set that left an indelible mark on collective memory.
Photo: Giovanni Forgione - Antiche immagini
Raito, 1959: Chiesa Madonna delle Grazie
© Giovanni Forgione - Antiche immagini
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