Italian town cashes in on Cruise-Holmes wedding

BRACCIANO, Italy, Nov 15 (Reuters) From these prized perches overlooking the Castello Odescalchi, you probably won't see Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes say ''I do'' this weekend.

But that isn't stopping the owners of apartments outside this medieval lakeside castle near Rome from charging a small fortune up to 30,000 euros for whoever wants a glimpse of Odescalchi's medieval entryways.

The castle's normally sleepy town of Bracciano is cashing in on its moment in the spotlight ahead of this weekend's nuptials, even though the location of the Hollywood wedding has yet to be officially confirmed.

The mayor is charging reporters 1,000 euros for positions overlooking the castle and 300 euros to park a satellite truck.

''Whether he's getting married here or not, for us the event has already started. That's why we have asked for a small contribution to cover the extra costs and make sure everybody in Bracciano can enjoy this,'' Mayor Patrizia Riccioni told Reuters.

'TOM&KATIE' RISOTTO The city is clearly ready to put on a show raising more than fourfold the number of traffic police, planting fresh red and white flowers, repairing cobblestones and blocking parking on main avenues for teams of street cleaners.

They've hired portable toilets and set up parking outside the city, planning special shuttles that will run visitors to Bracciano's historic centre.

''This is normally a quiet place, but right now it's crazy,'' said 77-year-old Mario Di Biagi, as helicopters full of paparazzi clattered over the castle.

The Trattoria del Castello on the main square facing the castle is luring tourists with its latest creation: ''Tom&Katie Truffle and Mushroom Risotto''. The restaurant boasts that it is ''served in a basket of melting Parmesan cheese''.

The restaurant, and the city outside, was swarming with foreign journalists getting settled ahead of the big event. Locals see it as the opportunity of a lifetime.

''For Bracciano this is great publicity. A lot of people will come here to see the lake and the castle and they will bring money to the town,'' said 83-year-old former construction worker Francesco Tamburini.

But not everybody is impressed. Some locals are shocked by the 2-million-euro price tag that Cruise and Holmes are rumoured to be paying to hire the castle.

''I haven't seen any of Tom Cruise's films. For me he is just an American actor with loads of money. I mean, I hope they are going to be happy, but it would be good if a bit of all this money could be spent on more worthy causes too,'' said Aleandro Donati, a 69-year-old pensioner.

REUTERS SY VV2148