10005 Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano on the web

Those who enjoy Camilleri's wonderful books may be interested in Italy's latest website sensation, with about 1.5 million hits in the fortnight that it has been on line: [url=http://www.montalbano.tv/]Montalbano | Montalbano.tv[/url]

This is a site about the making of the TV programmes, and it also gives access by clicking the [I]Collezione[/I] link to the TV episodes in full, for those who have broadband. Unfortunately for many, this is an Italian language presentation only. However I'm finding that the episodes which condense the books which I've already read in English are comprehensible enough to enjoy, even with my weak Italian. Fluent speakers will be also able to enjoy the programmes made from books which have not yet been translated.

And lovers of Sicily with no Italian might enjoy just looking at the pictures.

Category
Culture & Entertainment

The Italian Inspector morse is, more than aything else, responsible for the growth of italian tourism here in the last 10 years. The towns fo Scicli, Ragusa and modica are now well used to having film units parked up. Punta Secca is where montalbano's house is, and the whole series is a great advert for the Val di Noto Scicli has become a bit of a filming hotspot - Il Capo dei Capi was filmed there for the 1930's Corleone scenes, and the comunes are much more aware of the benefits brought from filming than in other places on the island. In fact Modica will pay you to film there - when the comune has some money!

A day spent visiting Palazzo Adriano where Cinema Paradiso was filmed, and doing the walk in the Sun Flower guide, in the countryside around the little town, is to be recommended. But back to Montalbano. His house can be rented for a holiday and on ebay we found DVD's of the series. In Italian with English subtitles and they are easy viewing if you've read the book before watching the episode. Do note Montalbano's impecable clothing....Inspectore Morse never looked so elegant!