There’s nowhere on earth quite like Venice. The floating city, with its looming domes, bustling canals, spindly bridges, waterfront palazzos and drifting gondolas, sometimes feels like a hazy, idyllic land from a half-remembered dream. As a result, for every sun-drenched, Venice-set rom-com, there are also plenty of spine-chillers which hone in on the city’s inherent spookiness. From Sophia Loren To Monica Bellucci, 17 Times Italian Bombshells Ruled The Venice Film Festival Gallery 17 Photos View GalleryIt’s this sheer abundance of atmosphere and theatricality that makes it the perfect setting for the Venice Film Festival, the oldest cinematic showcase of its kind, which kicks off its glamorous 83rd edition on 2 September. Ahead of opening night, we take a look back at the most ravishing releases which play out on these historic streets and waterways, from the ’50s to now.