Florence and Cinema: Iconic Locations of Films and TV Series

Numerous films were shot in Florence during the 20th century and the 3rd millennium.

They range from the great masterpieces of neorealism to milestones of Italian comedy, from Pieraccioni’s modern films to international productions.

In this guide, we’ll discover the characteristics and locations at the heart of important films, beloved and appreciated by audiences and critics alike.

We begin with a list of Italian cult films and Hollywood blockbusters filmed in Florence:

Ragazze di San Frediano, Le (1955) by Valerio Zurlini;
Cronaca familiare (1962) by Valerio Zurlini;
Amici Miei (1975) by Mario Monicelli;
A Room with a View (1986) by James Ivory;
Laureati, I (1995) by Leonardo Pieraccioni;
Ciclone, Il (1996) by Leonardo Pieraccioni;
The Portrait of a Lady (1996) by Jane Campion;
Tea with Mussolini (1999) by Franco Zeffirelli;
Hannibal (2001) by Ridley Scott;
Better Youth (2003) by Marco Tullio Giordana;
Inferno (2016) by Ron Howard.

Roberto Rossellini’s Paisan: Florence of the Resistance

Among Florence’s most important and cinematic locations is undoubtedly the Ponte Vecchio. Internationally renowned films have featured the city’s most famous bridge as their backdrop.

Among these, Roberto Rossellini’s Paisà stands out, focusing on the events of the partisan resistance.

The film was shot in 1946 and remains one of the great masterpieces of Italian cinema.

Along with “Bicycle Thieves,” it is a cornerstone of Italian Neorealism, with an episodic structure that narrates the advance of Allied troops from North to South during World War II, documenting the encounter between different cultures.

The Tuscan capital is the undisputed protagonist of Episode IV, entitled “Florence”.

It is set during the days of the city’s liberation, in August 1944, and follows the adventures of English nurse Harriet as she searches for her beloved painter Guido Lombardi through the streets of Florence, where house-to-house fighting rages and the streets are targeted by Nazi snipers.

The film was shot in:

Vasari Corridor and the Ponte Vecchio area: Harriet and her friend Massimo use the Vasari Corridor to escape the Germans, crossing the Arno River after the Germans had mined all the city’s bridges, sparing the Ponte Vecchio.
In the film, we can see the entrances to the Vasari Corridor and the area near Ponte Vecchio;
Piazzale degli Uffizi and the Uffizi Gallery: the area near the Gallery is an integral part of several shots showing the Uffizi and part of the historic center;
Florence Cathedral: The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is used at various points in the episode as a backdrop, even in the distance, to highlight the contrast between the destruction wrought by the conflict and the timeless beauty of the city;
Boboli Gardens and Palazzo Pitti: Several scenes were filmed behind Palazzo Pitti, within the characteristic Boboli Gardens;
Via San Onofrio: depicted as half-destroyed, it is cited as one of the areas directly involved in the fighting.

A Room with a View and Portrait of a Lady: A Homage to 19th-Century Florence

With a classic feel and a script as precise as a machine, “A Room with a View” uses numerous city locations.

The film was directed by James Ivory in 1985 and is based on the novel by E.M. Forster.

Set in the early 20th century, it tells the story of the restless Lucy traveling in Italy with her cousin Charlotte. It is during their trip that Lucy falls in love with George Emerson and decides to abandon her fiancé.

The Florentine locations of “A Room with a View” include:

Hotel degli Orafi: the old Pensione Quisisiana became the Pensione Bertolini. “A Room with a View” is room no. 414;
Piazza della Signoria: the famous stabbing scene takes place here, with the Fountain of Neptune, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Loggia dei Lanzi in the background;
Basilica of Santa Croce: location visited by Lucy, who admires Dante’s tomb (actually buried in Ravenna) and Giotto’s frescoes;
Piazza della Santissima Annunziata: the Spedale degli Innocenti and the equestrian monument of Ferdinand I feature in the shots accompanying Lucy, Charlotte, and Eleanor Lavish’s stroll;
Ponte Vecchio and the Arno: featured in several shots as part of the Florentine panorama;
Uffizi Gallery and Lungarno: several exteriors feature in Ivory’s film.

About a decade after “A Room with a View,” Florence is the protagonist of another important period film.

The Portrait of a Lady features locations in Florence and Tuscany as an important part of the story told by New Zealander Jane Campion.

Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore: the most dramatic scene in the entire film was shot here. At the top of the Duomo, with Florence in the background, Gilbert Osmond (John Malkovich) seduces Isabel Archer (Nicole Kidman);
Giotto’s Bell Tower: The film emphasizes Renaissance architecture through shots of the famous bell tower and several historic buildings;
Palazzo Pfenner: The secret garden of Osmond’s home was recreated in the garden of the famous palace in Lucca.

Tea with Mussolini by Franco Zeffirelli

Franco Zeffirelli and Florence are inseparable. The great Italian director was born in the Tuscan capital in 1923 and set several of his films here, including “Tea with Mussolini“.

Filmed in 1999, it is autobiographical and recounts Zeffirelli’s youth and the period of World War II.

The atmosphere of the 1930s and 1940s was also recreated thanks to scenes shot in specific locations:

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore: featured in several scenes;
English Cemetery: another important location in the film, located in Piazza Donatello;
Santa Maria Novella Complex: among the film’s key locations, the Convent of the Dominican Fathers of Santa Maria Novella stands out;
Piazza della Santissima Annunziata: the focus of some shots is the Ospedale degli Innocenti;
Villa di Maiano: the elegant interiors and panoramic views of this structure in Fiesole are featured in some scenes of the film.

The Medici: Places of the Florentine Renaissance

The Medici and Florence represent one of the strongest dichotomies between a group and a specific city.

The family ruled Florence during the Renaissance.

The historical events, internal conflicts, and rivalries with other families have been impeccably narrated in the television series “The Medici”.

Created by Frank Spotnitz and Nicholas Meyer, it aired on Rai1 between 2016 and 2019.

The 24 episodes, divided into three seasons, were filmed on truly beautiful real-life sets, many of which were in Florence.

Let’s relive the TV series “The Medici” by discovering the locations where it was filmed:

Basilica of San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapels: A prominent feature especially in the first season, the church played a fundamental role for the family. It still houses their tombs;
Duomo and Baptistery: The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Brunelleschi’s Dome appear in several scenes with shots of their facades;
Palazzo Vecchio: Many scenes, particularly in the first season, were set inside the Palazzo Vecchio. The Palazzo dei Priori in Volterra served as a set for the Sala del Maggior Consiglio and the exteriors;
Bargello National Museum: Located inside the oldest palace in the city, it was used as a set for several scenes;
Palazzo Medici Riccardi: Inside the family’s historic residence is the Chapel of the Magi, with frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli, which was also the location for some filming.

Hannibal: In the Footsteps of Anthony Hopkins in Florence

Among the films set in Florence, “Hannibal” occupies a prominent place.

This is due to the film’s history, Sir Anthony Hopkins’ performance, and the fact that it is the sequel to the absolute masterpiece “The Silence of the Lambs.”

In the film “Hannibal,” the Tuscan capital is the undisputed protagonist of the first part of the film.

It is here that Hannibal Lecter lives under the false identity of Dr. Fell.

And this is why so many locations in Florence were used as backdrops for various scenes in the 2001 film:

Palazzo Vecchio: from the window of the Sala dei Cinquecento, we observe one of the film’s cult scenes, the fall and hanging of Inspector Rinaldo Pazzi, played by Giancarlo Giannini;
Palazzo Capponi alle Rovinate: in the film, it is the residence and workplace of Hannibal Lecter/Dr. Fell;
Ponte Vecchio: the goldsmiths’ shops provide the backdrop for Lecter’s strolls and the meeting between Pazzi and his associates;
Piazza della Signoria: used as a setting for several surveillance scenes;
Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella: obsessed with smells, Hannibal purchases various aromatic soaps here;
Cloister of Santa Croce and Pazzi Chapel: this is where Hannibal Lecter attends a concert;
Piazza della Repubblica: used for some connecting scenes, such as the one featuring the arrival of Agent Sterling, played by Julianne Moore;
Porcellino Fountain: the monument in Piazza del Mercato Nuovo is the location where Lecter injures a pickpocket;
Boboli Gardens: this is where Hannibal Lecter sneaks around to evade surveillance.

Film Location Tours in Florence

Film locations in Florence can be visited to relive memorable scenes from iconic films firsthand.

Here are some of the most popular film location tours in Florence:

“Amici miei” (My Friends) Tour: This is one of the most requested tours, thanks to the cult aura of Monicelli’s film. We revisit some of the locations where iconic scenes were filmed, such as the Porte Sante Cemetery, home to Adelina’s tomb; Bar Negroni on Via dei Renai, home to Bar Becchi; Platform 16 of the Santa Maria Novella Station, where the famous slap scene was filmed; and Piazza Santo Spirito, where Perozzi’s funeral took place.
“Hannibal” and “Inferno” Tours: Two films with virtually similar locations. We retrace the stories of Hannibal Lecter and Professor Robert Langdon by visiting the Vasari Corridor, the Boboli Gardens, Ponte Vecchio, and the Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella.
The “Room with a View” tour: early 20th-century Florence is also captured through shots of Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Santa Croce with the Peruzzi Chapel, and the Hotel degli Orafi.