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Cinema enthusiasts know it well: even the most stunning film is incomplete without the perfect location. Throughout the history of the seventh art, many directors and producers have chosen Italy. No surprise there—after all, it is the ultimate country of beauty.
This is why entire businesses have grown around cinematic locations across the peninsula. One example?
The countless individuals who, over the years, have researched Italian homes for sale, purchasing properties in areas immortalized by legendary directors, and transforming them into successful and iconic hospitality ventures.
If you’re considering following this path or are simply curious, here are some of the most stunning Italian locations that have graced the silver screen.
Villa Boscogrande
We are in Palermo, the stunning capital of Sicily. Here lies Villa Boscogrande, the noble residence chosen by Luchino Visconti for his masterpiece The Leopard.
In the world of cinema, this villa became the palace of Prince Salina. Today, it is open for visits by appointment and boasts numerous artistic wonders, including exquisite frescoes.
Villa Erba
Fast forward to 2004, on the unforgettable set of Ocean’s Twelve. In this sequel to one of the most successful films of the early 2000s, the team of thieves, led by George Clooney and Brad Pitt, sets its sights on a heist in Rome and goes up against the thief Night Fox, played by Vincent Cassel. His residence? Villa Erba in Cernobbio.
This magnificent building has deep ties to cinema, with a history dating back long before Steven Soderbergh’s film. Villa Erba was the youthful residence of Luchino Visconti, the son of Giuseppe Visconti di Modrone and Carla Erba. It was a place where one of Italy’s greatest directors grew up, immersed in a vibrant and culturally stimulating atmosphere.
Crema
Let’s now talk about a recent case study: the surge in tourism in Crema following the release of Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me by Your Name. The last installment of the “Desire Trilogy” captured the hearts of millions, inspiring movie and travel enthusiasts to book trips to Crema and its surroundings to revisit the locations that framed the summer romance of the protagonists, played by Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer.
Villa Necchi Campiglio
From the last film in the “Desire Trilogy,” we turn to the first: I Am Love, released in 2009. The main location, the Recchi family residence, is Villa Necchi Campiglio, part of Milan’s museum home circuit and located on Via Mozart.
This street—and the villa—are nestled in a network of charming alleys worth exploring. They reveal that under the Madonnina, Milan has much more to offer than the Duomo and the fashion district.
The Sicily of Cinema Paradiso
Cinema Paradiso, Giuseppe Tornatore’s masterpiece, is another fantastic testament to Sicily’s cinematic treasures.
From scenes set in Bagheria, the director’s hometown, to those featuring Palazzo Adriano in Palermo, the options are endless for anyone wanting to explore this cinematic paradise.
Villa Lante
Unable to use the Vatican Gardens for We Have a Pope, released in 2011, Nanni Moretti opted for the splendid setting of Villa Lante in Bagnaia, in the province of Viterbo.
This estate is renowned for its magnificent garden, one of the finest examples of Italian Mannerist garden design. That same year, it was declared the most beautiful park in Italy.