Movies to Watch before you visit Rome
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To me a big part of the joy of travel is the planning portion! Figuring out where you’re going to go, what you’d like to see and experience. Daydreaming about what Rome will look and feel and smell like!
Other than checking out fabulous travel blogs and YouTube videos, watching movies filmed at your destination is a great way to get the feel! Check out this list of movies filmed in Rome to really get you in the mood for your trip!
Roman Holiday (1953)
Ahhhh this is the ultimate classic Rome film for me! So charming and funny! Audrey Hepburn, who won the Best Actress Oscar for this role, is a princess who has escaped her royal duties for the day and is exploring Rome on her own. Gregory Peck is an American reporter who accidentally becomes her tour guide. Eddie Albert (Mr. Douglas of Green Acres!) is the reporter’s hilarious photographer friend.
Featured Rome Sights:
- Mouth of Truth at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin
- Pantheon
- Castel Sant’Angelo
- Trevi Fountain
- Spanish Steps
- Colosseum
- Piazza Venezia
- Palazzo Colonna
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Based on a novel set in the 1950s this psychological thriller will keep you dazzled by the gorgeous scenery and actors, as well as on the edge of your seat for whats going to happen next. It stars Matt Damon who was hired by the father of Jude Law’s character to convince “Jude” to come home to the US after galavanting around Italy.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett and Philip Seymour Hoffman also star.
Featured Rome Sights:
- Piazza Navona
- Spanish Steps
- Piazza di Spagna
- Forum
- Capitoline Hill
- Positano, Venice, Ischia and Procida are also featured!
Book Club 2: The Next Chapter (2023)
This movie features Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen touring Rome and Venice for “Jane’s” bachelorette party. If you’re into this sort of rom-com, you’ll probably enjoy it, otherwise just fast forward to check out the scenery 😀
Featured Rome Sights:
- Fiumicino Airport
- Via dei Coronari
- Spanish Steps
- Trevi Fountain
- Grand Plaza Hotel (which portrays a hotel in Venice in the film)
When In Rome (2010)
Kristen Bell stars in this cute romantic comedy. She travels from NYC to Rome for her sisters wedding and ends up taking a few coins out of a fountain. This, of course causes all kinds of problems with the original owners of each coin magically falling madly in love with her. Hijinx ensue. Its a fun romp which gives a nice glimpse Rome!
The plot is a nod to the Three Coins in the Fountain (1954) about 3 women in Rome who throw coins in a fountain and find love.
Featured Rome Sights:
- Piazza Borghese (where a fictional Venus statue / fountain was created for this movie)
- Forum
- Spanish Steps
- Piazza della Maddalena
- Colosseum
- Pantheon
- Trevi Fountain
To Rome With Love (2012)
This movie by Woody Allen was filmed entirely in Rome, after Roman distributors offered Allen financing as long as it was filmed there. It’s comprised of 4 different stories, all centered around fame and success. Being shot entirely in Rome there are loads of glimpses of the sights and general streets and life.
Featured Rome Sights:
- Termini Station
- Fiumicino Airport
- Trevi Fountain
- Piazza Campo De Fiori
- Piazza del Popolo
- Turtle Fountain
- Piazza Navona
- Villa Borghese
- Spanish Steps
Only You (1994)
Marisa Tomei and her real life boyfriend at the time, Robert Downy Jr., star in this romantic comedy. Marisa beleives she has found her soul mate, just as he is leaving on a flight to Italy, so she follows him and tries to track him down. This is a cute, fluffy movie, that I actually though got better as it went along.
Featured Rome Sights:
- Piazza Navona
- Esquiline Hill
- Tiber Island
- Piazza at the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere
- Venice, Positano, and Venice are also featured!
Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)
This 1954 romantic comedy is about 3 American women who move to Rome for their sectrarial jobs, and they are all looking for love. Great fashions. It was fun to see the sights from so long ago, looking pretty much the same as they do now. Really brings home the idea that Rome is the Eternal City! Three Coins in the Fountain won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Song (by Uncle Frank).
Featured Rome Sights:
- Trevi Fountain
- Spanish Steps
- Villa Borghese
- Colosseum
- St. Peter’s Square
More Movies filmed in Rome
My list highlighted some of my favorites, but there are thousands of movies filmed in Rome. To see a more extensive list on Wikipedia click here: Movies set in Rome.
If you’re going to Florence too, be sure to check out this post listing the filming locations for the 1985 movie “A Room with a View”!
