Pinocchio is one of the latest films made by the recorder Matteo Garrone. The 2019 film is based on Collodi's novel "The Adventures of Pinocchio" and has been a hit with audiences and critics alike. In fact, the film work received an impressive 15 nominations for the 2020 David di Donatello Awards, taking home 5 awards. It also grossed 2 Oscar nominations in the Best Makeup and Best Costume Design categories.

This film can boast a exceptional cast, in which we find Roberto Benigni as Geppetto, Gigi Proietti as Mangiafuoco and Massimo Ceccherini and Rocco Papaleo who instead play the Cat and the Fox. What is striking, however, is not only the skill of the performers, but also the beauty of the locations chosen for the film's shooting, which took place over 11 weeks in parts of Puglia, including Ostuni, Polignano a Mare, Fasano and other inland places.

The places that hosted the film

The home of the Blue Fairy

The scenes set in the Blue Fairy's house were filmed in Altamura, in the province of Bari. More precisely, some spaces and buildings of Masseria Patrone and Masseria Jesce, which are located a short distance from Appia Antica, were used. This is a place of great charm and rich in history, ideal for recreating an ancient dwelling with colorful floors, sumptuous curtains and four-poster beds.

The encounter between Pinocchio and the Cat and the Fox.

Garrone's is a journey through the wonders of Italy, and for this reason some natural sights were chosen that are perfect for representing fairy-tale and magical lands. For example, Pinocchio's encounter with the Cat and Fox in Toyland takes place in the town of Ostuni, whose historic center is renowned for its characteristic white lime houses. Other filming then also took place in Fasano.

The shark at sea

What the director shows is an Apulia made up of legendary creatures and fantastic characters. In fact, in the Apulian sea itself lives the terrible shark. To be precise, the scenes related to the animal were recorded in the beautiful crystal-clear waters of Polignano a Mare, hometown of Domenico Modugno and also famous for diving competitions from great heights.

The Eater's Theater

Italy is a natural film set that needs no introduction. It is no coincidence that Garrone decided to set part of the filming with Mangiafuoco in the world's smallest theater that can be encountered in the municipality of Noicàttaro, near Bari. The building is the Nojano Citizen Theater, which is currently a property under FAI protection. The structure dates back to the 19th century and has just 50 seats.

The Hanging of Pinocchio

The Alta Murgia National Park was one of the main locations of the film in Apulia. In addition to the aforementioned Altamura, some scenes were also shot in Spinazzola and Gravina di Puglia for their verdant expanses and countryside of rare beauty. It was in these very fields that the macabre scene of Pinocchio's hanging took place. Also used was the Madonna della Stella viaduct in Gravina di Puglia, an arched bridge erected in the late 17th century.