Product Details

• Format: Color, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Acorn Media
• DVD Release Date: August 18, 2009
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001OD8E28
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,164 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the Alps to Sicily, tour all of Italy from a spectacular vantage point

Italians call their home Il Belpaese, "The Beautiful Country," and it has never looked more breathtaking than in this unique aerial tour. Shot in high definition from a helicopter-mounted camera and planned with precision for optimum lighting and angles, your tour is enhanced by an informative narrative and a score of evocative regional music. Take an emotional visit to your family’s homeland, revisit favorite sights, or realize your dreams of discovering Italy for the first time--whatever your inspiration--you’ll never have a better view.

INCLUDES THESE PROGRAMS
Northern Style--The Alps, Lake Como, Portofino, Pisa, Siena, Florence, Venice, and more
Southern Style--Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, Calabria, Rome, and more
Sicily--Cefalú, Términi Imerese, Palermo, Marsala, Siracusa, Catania, and more
The Great Cities--Rome, Saint Peter’s Square, the Coliseum, Florence, Naples, Capri, and more

Features include more than an hour of bonus footage not seen on public television and main program audio options (music and narration or music only).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEAUTIFUL & STUNNING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR A NEAR COMPLETE VIEW OF ITALY, July 30, 2009

By 

Harold Wolf "Doc" (Wells, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Visions of Italy [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

STUNNING! There is filmed such stunning picture composition at every moment that this DVD set is like looking at a continually changing souvenir picture postcard. Panoramic and close-up views all come from a moving helicopter mounted camera. What a ride. What a optical experience.
____AND, the accented narrator offers so much local color in her voice as all of the detailed facts she discloses. Educational as well as aesthetic. It comes on 2 DVDs, but in 3 parts. For the Blu-ray version, a third DVD is included, "VISIONS OF THE GREAT CITIES", which I have not bought and did not come with the original "Visions of Italy (2005)" dvd set. The Blu-ray also has subtitles, and the option of music only (eliminating the narration) added since the original release.

Italy, Northern Style
____Winter Alps begins the show and then takes the viewer to Mediterranean fishing villages. the views looking from the water toward land, and helicopter elevation, is a vista few have ever seen. Delightful.
____I have been to Italy, took the train along the coast, but this DVD is even more spectacular than what I saw in person from a train. With "VISIONS OF ITALY" on DVD, you see a point of observation ONLY available via a helicopter.
____Names of locations (at least 32) appear in the corner of the scene but the narrator's pronunciation is so much more sensual (and correct) than my attempts were. Add the excellent music background and this is 5-star travel excellence all the way.
____Northern bonus segment is 21 minutes long, out of the 160 total minutes contained in both Northern and Southern Style segments.

Italy, Southern Style
____This part of the Italy experience has a romantic, exotic coastal footage with an erotic beauty, making every mile a desirable destination. It was filmed in 2001, so it is 'very current.'
____41 different locations are listed on the paper insert inside the DVD case. What a perfect preview for anyone planning an Italian vacation. Look at this prior to making out your itinerary. It's better than a travel agent.
____Having traveled Italy some, I believe this DVD offers views that are better than what can be seen in person, sometimes. Honest!
____Southern bonus material last 21 minutes. It's so soothing, with the scenery rolling by and the fine music background. Do it right, have wine, cheese, and a baguette while watching.

Visions of Sicily
____This special DVD and segment on Sicily covers territory I have never seen in person. It is lovely, and the filming is a continuation of the excellence seen in VISIONS OF ITALY. Having never seen Sicily in person, I was amazed at how modern (21st century) it looks, including excellent roads and bridges. You see some spectacular bridges. It almost looks like Disney helped design Sicily. There are, even so, many very old churches and buildings to explore visually. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

This is also available for regular viewing, or NON Blu-ray.
Worth 5-stars regardless of your video equipment.
Wonderful travel documentary. Great for schools and libraries, too.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much Better than the DVDs, September 29, 2009

By 

Zarathustra (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Visions of Italy [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

Visions of Italy [Blu-ray] If you have a blu-ray player buy this one. It costs less than the 2 DVDs available and has a lot more material. You could spend an entire weekend watching these 2 blu-rays. The videos are beautiful, the music is great and the narrations are excellent. Sicily alone is worth the price. Divetirti!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plan a trip to Sicily, October 9, 2009

By 

Paul J. Boucher - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Visions of Italy [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

The photography is superb. Sicily is very different than I envisioned but the video helped me make my decision to visit. It was thorough and complete and kept me interested for the entire video. I have not viewed the other DVD on Italy but will view that before I visit.