Visiting Famous Film Locations in Rome

Speaking of movies about Rome, Roman Holiday may be the first one that comes to mind. Many scenes from this film are memorable even today: The beautiful Audrey Hepburn hairstyle, the ice cream on the steps of the Spain square, the princess who was startled in front of the Mouth of Truth, and the two protagonists riding motorcycles like children through the streets of Rome...

Almost every significant tourist attraction in Rome has been seen on film. The Roman Holiday tour begins at St. Peter's Square, and then moves to the Republic Square where the princess fled, the barbershop near the Wishing Well in which Audrey Hepburn cut her hair, the encounter on the Spain Square, the Venice Square where the two cycled by, the Colosseum they toured, the cafe beside the Pantheon, the lie test at the Mouth of Truth, the outdoor ball at St. Angels Castle, and finally the kiss.

If Roman Holiday was the film that opened the door to the city of Rome in the black-and-white film era, then Eat, Pray, Love was the romantic and aesthetic promotional film that has defined Rome in recent years. The movie starred Julia Roberts as the heroine who, after two failed relationships, tries to heal herself through a long journey to Rome, India, and Bali alone.

The theme of Rome is "gourmet". The heroine as a columnist knows much about Rome, so you can follow her footsteps through the city. Remember to taste the Cacio e Pepe, Italian coffee and pizzas that appeared in the movie.

We recommend that you go to Trastevere on the west bank of the Tiber, as seen in the movie, and then cross the bridge to the east bank to enjoy the scenery of the boat-shaped island in the Tiber. You will arrive at the noted Piazza Navona once you walk through the Jewish district, and visit the Pantheon nearby, as well as the Mausoleum of Augustus and the Palazzo Borghese in the north.

The Talented Mr. Ripley is heralded as the crowning work of noir fiction, and the protagonist, Tom Ripley, is regarded as one of the most classic characters of 20th century crime novels. The movie features an all-star cast: The villain played by Matt Damon opposes the character played by the handsome Jude Law. The city view in the movie is also beautiful, and the scenes filmed at the Spain Square are particularly impressive.

The movie tells the dark story of an ordinary guy, played by Matt Damon, who is entrusted by an affluent American businessman to persuade his son, Dickie, to return home from Italy. However, Ripley cannot help but become obsessed with the luxurious life and high social status. As a result, Ripley kills Dickie and impersonates him to enjoy a new life, while his lies multiply and his murders mount.

Dan Brown is famous all over the world for The Da Vinci Code, while Angels & Demons is regarded as its prequel. It is hard to find a more suitable place than Rome for the mysterious religious atmosphere of the novel. If you are a loyal fan of this movie, you can walk the path of illumination by following the 16th century marks from the movie: Illuminati.

In the movie, Professor Langdon first comes to Raphael's tomb in the Pantheon, and then discovers the four mysterious signs of "earth, air, fire, and water" in the Roman map. "Earth" represents Santa Maria del Popolo standing on the Piazza del Popolo; "air" represents St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City; "fire" represents Santa Maria della Vittoria to the west of the Piazza della Repubblica; and "water" represents the famous Fountain of the Four Rivers on the Navona Square.

The Roman movies under Woody Allen's lens are arguably "the least Roman-like." Viewers only catch a fleeting glimpse of the ancient imperial buildings and the holy churches in his movies. However, behind each of the roles in his movies stand ordinary Roman people. For example, each of them feature little Romanisms, such as Roberto Benigni's classic, lively hand gestures and Penélope Cruz’s sexiness and generosity. All kinds of Italian humor are ingeniously integrated into the two love stories and the two tales of fame and fortune.

The most unforgettable scene is probably Woody Allen himself acting as the daughter's father persuading her father-in-law: The owner of a funeral parlor unexpectedly becomes an opera star and stands naked in the middle of the stage of the National Theatre. On the stage he sings Italian tenor loudly while in the shower, and under the stage sits the mesmerized audience.

So, fans of this movie may as well go to the Teatro Dell where that scene was filmed and enjoy truly authentic Italian operas.