So let’s round up some of the best movies filmed in Italy here…
The Great Beauty
Oscar Winner The Great Beauty provides an arresting depiction of contemporary Rome through the eyes of a disillusioned journalist, exploring themes of art, mortality and meaning amidst Italy’s capital city’s lavishness and decadence.
Il Postino (The Postman)
Set on an idyllic small town off of Southern Italy, this poetic film follows an unlikely friendship between an introverted postman and exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. While delivering mail to island residents, he learns about love, poetry and its power; eventually finding courage within himself to pursue happiness himself.
Casino Royale
Daniel Craig made his debut as James Bond in this action-packed thriller set against Venice and Lake Como. Boasting breathtaking action sequences set against iconic locations like Grand Canal and Piazza San Marco, Casino Royale reinvigorated the main character, Bond franchise while cementing Italy as an international center of espionage.
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola’s gangster saga may take place entirely within America, yet there’s plenty of Italy – specifically Sicily – present as well. Michael (Al Pacino) arrives at his family’s village of Corleone south of Palermo (in reality 100 miles east). However, we see more of Sicily near Taormina when filming first begins.
Cinema Paradiso
This moving tribute to film and its ability to alter lives takes place in Godfather country in north-western Sicily. Giancaldo is an imagined village meant as a recreation of director Giuseppe Tornatore’s hometown Bagheria; principal filming took place at Palazzo Adriano south of Palermo.
Under the Tuscan Sun
This romantic comedy directed by Audrey Wells follows Julia Roberts’ character after she has recently divorced, who impulsively purchases a villa in Tuscany impulsively and with no prior consideration of its potential price or location. Set against this picturesque countryside backdrop, the movie explores themes of love, self-discovery and second chances throughout its narrative.
The Pink Panther
This opening installment of slapstick comedy series began with David Niven as Sir Charles Lytton, rather than Peter Sellers as Inspector Lecter; thus its locations are rather more lavish than expected; for much of it takes place at Cortina d’Ampezzo resort of Dolomites where Winter Olympics were first hosted in 1956 and may once more host it 2026 Winter Olympic games.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel, this psychological thriller, stars Matt Damon as Tom Ripley – a young man charged with retrieving the son of an influential American from Italy. With stunning images shot throughout Italy – including Rome, Venice and Amalfi Coast – Ripley becomes caught up in a web of deceit and murder as his journey unfolds.
Roman Holiday
Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck star in this timeless classic about an isolated princess who escapes her duties for an adventure-filled day in Rome, including iconic scenes at Trevi Fountain and Roman Forum that capture its magic – winning Hepburn an Academy Award as Best Actress in this regard.
La Dolce Vita
La Dolce Vita, an iconic Italian cinema film, explores Rome’s high society’s decadence and disillusionment through unforgettable imagery and provocative themes such as pleasure seeking and celebrity culture – becoming one of the cinematic canon’s classic films.
Life is Beautiful
Set against the turbulent backdrop of World War II, Life is Beautiful chronicles a poignant story about an Italian-Jewish father using humor and his imagination to protect his young son from the horrors of Holocaust. Winning three Academy Awards (including Best Foreign Language Film), its message of love and resilience still touches audiences worldwide.
Call Me By Your Name
Set in northern Italy during the summer of 1983, this coming-of-age romance follows the blossoming relationship between Timothée Chalamet (Tim) and Armie Hammer (Armie), two 17-year-old boys. Set against Lake Garda’s stunning countryside and shimmering waters, the film captures both its intensity and beauty of first love.
Angels and Demons
Robert Langdon of Harvard symbology discovers a resurgent Illuminati brotherhood and immediately travels to Rome in order to warn its greatest adversary: the Vatican.
Together with the young woman, Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer), Langdon tracks down centuries-old symbols to foil the Illuminati’s deadly plot against Roman Catholicism and hopefully prevent their plan from coming true.
The Italian Job
This remake of the 1969 thriller, the Italian Job is action packed from start to finish. Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Jason Statham, Seth Green, Mos Def and Donald Sutherland star in this film.
Steve pulls a $35 Million gold heist in Venice but turns on his partners, killing one and keeping all the loot for himself. Steve’s former partners seek revenge and recruit his daughter’s help in order to recover the gold stashed at his mansion.
Most of the film was shot on location in Venice and Los Angeles, though chase scenes were shot in Coventry district in England as well as Turin and parts of northern Italy around Dolomites.
Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) visits Verona, Italy with her busy fiancé to visit a wall where heartbroken visitors leave letters for Shakespeare’s tragic heroine, Juliet Capulet.
From the sun-drenched hills of Tuscany to the bustling streets of Rome, Italy’s timeless beauty and rich cultural heritage have provided the perfect backdrop for some of cinema’s most unforgettable moments and great movies.
Whether you’re drawn to romance, drama, or adventure, these greatest films offer a captivating glimpse into the heart and soul of Italy, leaving viewers enchanted and inspired long after the credits roll.
