Italian Job Tour 02
Piazza Castello
The Ornate Staircase and the Traffic Jam
Location A
First you need to get to Piazza Castello, the heart of the city. It is easily reached by metro, tram or bus, and it is where the tour begins.
Scenes filmed here
- Minis down the ornate staircase 45.071153, 7.685476
- Beckerman's black and white film, shot from a high position 45.070488, 7.684178
- Traffic jam scenes — the choir boys, the girl slapping the boy 45.071223, 7.686462
- Asking for directions, and the device in the rubbish bin 45.071121, 7.686840
1. The ornate staircase
The castle in the square dominates. You are standing in what was once the entranceway to the Roman fortified city.
Start at point 1. In front of you is the ornate façade of Palazzo Madama. Go in through the huge iron gates and look right, up the staircase. Once the Minis had been loaded with their booty, they came down this stairway and left through the gateway you have just walked in by.
Take a walk up the stairs to the floor above. The Minis entered the building through the door now to your right, and came down the steps you have just walked up.
2. Beckerman's black and white film
Now exit the building the way you came in and step back into the piazza. Look up and to your left. You will notice a tall brown and white Art Deco building, put up under Mussolini.
Part of the traffic jam was filmed from up there, and it is also where Beckerman's black and white film begins.
3. The traffic jam
Turn right, around the castle, and you will find yourself in a small car park. All the little traffic jam vignettes were played out here — the choir boys playing cards, the girl slapping the boy, the man reading his newspaper while sounding the horn of his FIAT 500 with his foot.
4. Asking for directions
This is also where Fred Emney asked for directions to "Corso Garibaldi Street", then crossed the busy grand-prix road to place a device in the rubbish bin and disable a traffic camera.