Rome discovers a new breed of tourist

[emad]

Sophie Arie in Rome
Monday December 27, 2004
The Guardian

The next time the Pope addresses crowds in St Peter's Square, he may see tourists with paperbacks by the blockbuster conspiracy novelist Dan Brown, rather than Catholic pilgrims with Bibles or guidebooks.

The first "official Angels and Demons tour", organised by a group of 30-something Romans specialising in the "darker side of Rome", will tomorrow show visitors the Roman sites used by the author of The Da Vinci Code.

Since The Da Vinci Code became a global success, with more than 8m copies sold, the author's previous novels have become bestsellers too. Angels and Demons, Digital Fortress, and Deception Point were all in the top five UK paperback fiction list in the run-up to Christmas.

"We have noticed in the past few months that lots of tourists, mainly American and British, have started coming to Rome just to see the sites in Angels and Demons," said Simone Gozzi, head of the Dark Heart of Rome association. "Dan Brown certainly moves the masses."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/italy/story/0,12576,1379937,00.html

[davidinalameda]

1. how neat!

now that's the Rome I want to see

[Stinky The Clown]

2. Yanno, I would, too. That was a great read. (eom)

[loudsue]

3. LOL!! "By George, they've got it!!" (My Fair Lady)

It's going to be interesting to see the Vatican come out against Dan Brown after this.

It sure was a good book. So was "Holy Blood, Holy Grail". Wow! I wonder if I could get my hands on a copy of the documentary of Holy Blood, Holy Grail. I'd LOVE to see that!

:kick:

[InvisibleBallots]

4. Da Vinci Code - Propaganda for EU royalty

Da Vinci Code is based on "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" - and it's a PR move designed to lend legitimacy to the royalist families of Europe - they claim to be decended of King David of "Ancient Israel", King Solomon, and Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene.

They have been claiming this for 1,000 years, but no one believes them anymore. So, as it was clearly discussed in HBHG, they have launched a PR campaign to restore their "legitimacy".

Great novel, good writing, great story - 100% fiction, fiction being put to a rather nefarious end as well.

[VegasWolf]

5. Now there's a tour I would love to go on! n/t