From the Venetian canals to the Roman Colosseum, Italy has been a source of fascination for many. It’s one of the few European countries that perfectly melds modern sophistication with old world charm, and is a cultural hub for great food, warm beaches, and gorgeous architecture. With its romantic allure and beauty, the country is a dream destination that tops countless bucket lists, and is why so many great movies are set in Italy.
Italy’s cinematic appeal has long been a favorite for filmmakers, both in Hollywood and internationally. Not everyone has the means to hop on a plane and visit anytime they like, so watching movies set in Italy is a great way to live vicariously through the big stars of the silver screen. For those that have trouble choosing from the wide array of films with an Italian setting, there’s everything from romantic comedies to thrilling dramas to even Shakespeare that will have viewers saying “Che bello!”
The Tourist
Cast
Starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, The Tourist centers on Elise Clifton-Ward (Jolie), who is tasked with framing a random civilian for her lover’s, Alexander Pearce, tax evasion. A tourist named Frank Tupelo (Depp) is chosen because Pearce supposedly altered his appearance with plastic surgery. Despite having clear instructions from Pearce, Elise has a change of heart and tries to rescue Frank.
In this romantic thriller, Johnny Depp plays Frank Tupelo, a teacher visiting Venice who gets caught up in a whirlwind of intrigue and suspense. Mistaken as a master criminal and pursued by Scotland Yard, Frank is rescued by Elise (Angelina Jolie), a beautiful and mysterious woman with both criminal and governmental connections. Together the two of them must escape not only the law, but a dangerous mobster who believes that Frank is actually a master thief who has stolen a large sum of money from him.
Filled with twists and turns,The Touristkeeps the audience guessing until the very end. The beauty of Venice is ever-present, with a boat chase on the canal being one of the movie’s highlights. It also doesn’t hurt that Depp and Jolie heat up the frame in every scene.
Casanova
Casanova, set in 18th-century Venice, features Heath Ledger as the legendary womanizer who meets a woman seemingly immune to his charms. As he pursues her, he unexpectedly finds himself falling in love, challenging his notorious reputation. The film explores themes of romance, identity, and transformation.
The lateHeath Ledger starsas the infamous Italian lover in this fictional romantic period drama. Famed for his sexual exploits, Giacomo Casanova meets his match when he falls in love with Francesca Bruni (Sienna Miller), a Venetian noblewoman who writes feminist literature under a male pseudonym. Unfortunately, Francesca is engaged to the wealthy Paprizzio (Oliver Platt) in an effort to save her family from debt. Using his wits and wiles, Casanova convinces Francesca that he is actually her betrothed, but his machinations are disrupted by a Venetian Inquisitor who wants to see him behind bars.
The sweeping romance ofCasanovais credited not only to Ledger’s seductive performance, but to the lush environs that immerses viewers into 18th century Venice.Complete with gorgeous period costumes, Venetian masks, powdered wigs, and sword fights, this movie has everything an Italophile could ever want.
Letters to Juliet
Letters to Juliet is a romantic drama directed by Gary Winick. The film stars Amanda Seyfried as Sophie, a young American woman visiting Italy who discovers a letter sent to Shakespeare’s fictional Juliet, inspiring her to help its author find a long-lost love. Vanessa Redgrave and Christopher Egan also star in this exploration of lost romance and the timeless pursuit of true love.
While visiting Verona with her fiancé, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), a fact-checker forThe New York Times,learns about a unique tradition in which people write letters to Shakespeare’s famous tragic heroine, Juliet. The letters are read and answered by a society called Secretaries of Juliet, and Sophie volunteers. She reads a letter written by a woman named Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) in the 1950s, which tells the story of Claire’s long-lost love — an Italian man named Lorenzo.
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Letters To Juliet is a fictional story following a woman’s journey to find her lost love in Verona, but the movie’s concept is very real.
Moved by Claire’s tale, Sophie seeks her out and offers to help the now elderly woman find the man who got away. Claire is joined by her grandson, Charlie (Christopher Egan), as the three scour the countryside in search of Lorenzo.Letters to Julietis a sweet, feel-good romance that celebrates rekindled lost love as well as finding love for the first time.
Nine
Nine, directed by Rob Marshall, is a musical drama inspired by Federico Fellini’s film 8½. The story revolves around Guido Contini, portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis, a renowned Italian film director grappling with a creative block. The film features a star-studded cast including Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, and Nicole Kidman, and explores Guido’s tumultuous relationships with the women in his life as he attempts to find artistic inspiration.
Any lover of Italian cinema knows about Federico Fellini and his arthouse masterpiece,8 ½.What they may not realize is that the Rob Marshall musical film,Nine,was inspired by the filmmaker’s iconic work. Daniel Day-Lewis plays Guido Contini, a veteran Italian filmmaker whose newest feature lacks a screenplay, and Guido’s creativity has run dry. While he recounts his past loves and the many women in his life, Guido struggles with the search for inspiration while coming to terms with his womanizing ways.
Nineis a unique musical celebration brimming with love for all things Italian.While Day-Lewis is renowned for his Oscar-worthy acting, no one could have guessed that the legendary star can also sing and dance. The rest of the ensemble cast also impresses with their musical talents, and Fergie’s memorable rendition of “Be Italian” is a trademark scene bursting with Italian flair and sensuality.
When in Rome
When in Rome is a romantic comedy that follows the story of Beth, a young and cynical New Yorker, who impulsively steals coins from a reputed fountain of love during a trip to Rome, inadvertently igniting the passionate pursuit of several suitors. As she navigates the resulting chaos and humorous encounters, the film delves into themes of love, serendipity, and the complexities of modern relationships.
This fantasy rom-com stars Kristen Bell as Beth, a woman who has given up on ever finding love. While in Rome for her sister’s destination wedding, Beth finds a magic fountain where people throw coins to wish for true love. In her depressed state, Beth pulls out a handful of coins from the fountain, not realizing that the magic causes the owners of the coins to fall in love with her. As she fends off a group of unwanted suitors, she fears that the man she really loves is under the same spell.
When in Rome’s premise may be a bit silly, but Bell is a joy to watch, as is Josh Duhamel as best man Nick, and the supporting cast of eccentric characters.The romantic Roman setting also adds to the charm of this underrated film.
Eat, Pray, Love
Based on the best-selling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love stars Julia Roberts as Gilbert, a woman who, realizing she is unsatisfied with her life as a regular modern woman, embarks on a journey of self-discovery through a trip to three separate countries: Italy, India, and Bali. Javier Bardem, James Franco, Viola Davis, and Billy Crudup make up the supporting cast.
Based on the best-selling memoir of the same name,Eat Pray Loveis a true-story journeyof self-discovery and self-love. Following a divorce after years of marriage, Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) realizes that she has never given herself the freedom to explore the pleasures of life. She embarks on a journey to Italy, then to India, and finally Indonesia, all while embracing the joys of food, spirituality, and new experiences. During her travels, Liz meets Felipe (Javier Bardem), and the two begin a romance that renews her lust for life and faith in love.
The movie inspires viewers to be fearless and take risks, as well as keep their hearts open and their sense of wonder alive.
“Eat Pray Love”has become a mantra for many, and this movie was a key factor in its rising popularity.Everyone wanted to eat pizza in Naples and all the pasta in Rome after watching it — even if it meant gaining a few pounds. The movie inspires viewers to be fearless and take risks, as well as keep their hearts open and their sense of wonder alive.
Enchanted April
Enchanted April is a drama film released in 1991, centered on four English women seeking respite from their unfulfilled lives. They collectively rent a picturesque Italian villa, where they embark on a journey of self-discovery and personal transformation amidst the tranquil and rejuvenating setting.
Enchanted Aprilis the story of four women who find friendship and solace while on holiday in San Salvatore. Lottie (Josie Lawrence) and Rose (Miranda Richardson) are both unhappily married to neglectful husbands, while Caroline (Polly Walker) is a rich socialite who is tired of men only admiring her for her beauty and status. Along with the elderly and introverted Mrs. Fisher (Joan Plowright), the women rent a castle on the beautiful Italian hillside. Despite unwelcome intrusions from the men in their lives, they form a bond with one another that will last a lifetime.
It may be a British movie, butEnchanted Aprilfeels like walking into an Italian painting. The idyllic setting of Castello Brown where the movie was filmed was also the real-life inspiration for the original novel written by Elizabeth von Arnim.
In this masterful version of Shakespeare’s beloved romantic comedy, the noble Don Pedro and his faithful companions are invited to their friend Leonato’s villa in Messina. Pedro’s right-hand man, Benedick (Kenneth Branagh), is irritated by the presence of his ex-lover and Leonato’s daughter, Beatrice (Emma Thompson). The pair exchange barbs and insults in an effort to out-do one another, while others in the company note that there is still an obvious attraction between them. To bring the two together, their friends plan an elaborate scheme to push Beatrice and Benedick into admitting their true feelings for each other.
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Filmed on location in Chianti at the breathtaking Villa Vignamaggio,Much Ado About Nothinghas everything a Shakespearean movie adaptation needs. It’s funny, romantic, and arguably one of Kenneth Branagh’s best works as a director and actor.
Under the Tuscan Sun
Under the Tuscan Sun follows Frances, a recently divorced writer from San Francisco, who impulsively purchases a dilapidated villa in Tuscany. As she renovates her new home, she embarks on a journey of personal renewal in the picturesque Italian countryside, discovering unexpected joys and a fresh start.
Based on the memoir of Frances Mayes, thewonderful movieUnder the Tuscan Sunstars Diane Lane as Frances, a woman going through a traumatic divorce after her husband is unfaithful with a younger woman. Distraught, Frances goes on vacation in Tuscany in hopes of forgetting her troubles, and it’s there that she falls in love — not with a man, but with a villa that happens to be for sale. With nothing else to lose, Frances empties her savings to buy the house in the hopes of starting over.
She gets help with renovations from a group of quirky construction workers and her new neighbors, and she also finds romance with a handsome Italian local named Marcello (Raoul Bova).The movie is an inspiring true story that proves it’s never too late to start living life to the fullest.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Based on Patricia Highsmith’s eponymous 1955 novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley film follows Tom Ripley, a charming but troubled young man who embarks on a dangerous game of deceit and murder after being hired by a wealthy businessman to retrieve his son Dickie Greenleaf from Italy. Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow star in the 1999 thriller directed by Anthony Minghella.
A chilling thriller with an iconic anti-hero,The Talented Mr. Ripleytakes the audience on a jaunt around Italy with a devious imposter who cons his way into the life of a wealthy elitist.Matt Damon is Tom Ripley, a man mistaken for an old college buddy of a privileged rich boy named Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law). When Dickie’s father hires Ripley to find his wayward son and bring him home, Ripley instead becomes enamored by Dickie and his lavish lifestyle.
Ripley will stop at nothing to become the man he wishes to be — even if it means murdering anyone who gets in his way.
Taking on the identity of the object of his obsession, Ripley will stop at nothing to become the man he wishes to be — even if it means murdering anyone who gets in his way.Damon is perfect as Ripley, giving an unsettling performance that counteracts the stunning Italian vistas where the movie was filmed.
