Roman landmark in grave danger

No film studio has quite the iconic status of Rome's Cinecitta. Despite shouldering the embarrassment of being commissioned by Mussolini, the complex has played host to such international productions as Ben Hur, Roman Holidayand Cleopatra. It was also, of course, the home environment of the great Federico Fellini.

With customary flamboyance, the director described the space as “my ideal world, the cosmic space before the Big Bang”. Now it transpires that, as productions are drawn to cheaper locations in such coming spots as Hungary and the Czech Republic, the studio is in serious danger of bankruptcy. Government cuts have made the situation even more precarious. Such is the crisis that the owners are planning to establish an amusement park, hotel and spa on one of the studio’s more historic sites.

It’s just not right.