ITALY: The wedding day approaches for Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

The town of Bracciano where Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes will marry on Saturday (November 18) is almost ready for the event and has even grown accustomed to the many photographers and television crews that have arrived on their doorstep. Owners of apartments outside the medieval lakeside castle Odescalchi are advertising apartments with a view for rental some for the princely figure of up to 30,000 euros. Nobody could accuse the normally sleepy town of not making the most of its moment in the spotlight with the town mayor charging reporters 1,000 euros 1,279 U.S. dollars for positions overlooking the castle and 300 euros to park a satellite truck. "We are not profiting at all on this event" mayor Patrizia Riccione told Reuters. "We have had to ask for a small contribution to cover the extra costs. We are not Rome town hall, we are a small town and this is such a big event in all senses. And we want to make sure everybody in Bracciano can enjoy this in the best way possible' she said. Tom, Katie and their baby girl Suri, born in April, were caught on camera together for the first time since arriving in Italy when they were driven on Wednesday from the luxurious Hassler Hotel in central Rome to meet with local dignitaries at the city hall. But it was situation normal outside the Hotel Hassler on Thursday (November 16) as press and fans gathered once again outside the doors to try and catch a glimpse of the couple, with the commotion drawing even more attention from passers-by. "We're here on a few days holiday in Rome and we knew that Tom Cruise was somewhere around in Rome, we saw all the paparazzi as we were walking past and we thought we'd watched and see if he came out," said one British tourist, Veronica Mason. Top name Hollywood guests, such as John Travolta, are expected to begin arriving today in time for a glitzy party this evening - but as usual the party venue remains a closely guarded secret.

ITN Source | November 23, 2006

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