19 Dreamy Movies Set in Italy: Romance, Beauty & Travel
Italy is a country made for the movies. With its winding cobblestone streets, glittering coastlines, Renaissance art, and cinematic piazzas, it’s no wonder filmmakers have long flocked here to set their stories. Whether it’s a sweeping romance, a tense thriller, or a lighthearted comedy, the best movies set in Italy showcase not just the country’s beauty but also its drama, history, and everyday charm.
Since I’ve lived in Italy for 6+ years (mostly as a teenager, but I just moved back!), I’ve spent a lot of time traveling the country and I can’t help but get excited when I recognize a place on the screen. (And I also can’t help noticing when Hollywood gets the details a little wrong.)
This list includes everything from old Hollywood classics to modern dramas, plus a few feel-good favorites you may not expect. Each film captures a different slice of Italian life, and together they’ll transport you from Rome to Sicily and Venice to Tuscany with no passport required.
(If you’d like to follow in the footsteps of these films, I’ve also included ideas for tours and experiences that let you see the movie magic in real life. And, of course, you’ll want to check out my recommended list of Books set in Italy.)
Movies set in Italy
Roman Holiday
Release Year: 1953
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Classic
Location(s) Featured: Rome, Italy
Roman Holiday is classic old Hollywood and pure delight. Audrey Hepburn plays a princess on an official state visit to Rome who, feeling suffocated by her duties, sneaks out from her embassy. She meets an American reporter, played by Gregory Peck, who recognizes her but doesn’t reveal it—at least not at first. Together, they explore Rome by scooter, gelato in hand, and discover both the freedom and heartbreak of stolen time. The film was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, with Hepburn winning Best Actress. Fun fact: Rome initially denied filming permits, worried the movie would “degrade Italians,” but the film became one of the most beloved showcases of the city.
Note from Jen: I actually visited Parco dei Principi, the hotel where many of the scenes were filmed, on my recent trip to Rome and it really is stunning. I highly recommend it to live out your Audrey Hepburn dreams!
La Dolce Vita
Release Date: 1960
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Classic
Location(s) Featured: Rome, Italy
Federico Fellini’s masterpiece La Dolce Vita follows gossip journalist Marcello Rubini (Marcello Mastroianni) through a series of decadent nights and disillusioned mornings in Rome. From the iconic Trevi Fountain scene with Anita Ekberg to glamorous parties and crumbling relationships, the film captures both the allure and emptiness of “the sweet life.” This is a film lover’s film—moody, layered, and unforgettable. It’s long and episodic, but it leaves you with an indelible sense of 1960s Rome at a crossroads between tradition and modernity.
It Started in Naples
Release Year: 1960
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Romace
Location(s) Featured: Naples, Italy
This lighthearted romance pairs Clark Gable with Sophia Loren. (Because what’s an Italian movie list without her?) Gable plays an American lawyer who travels to Naples to settle his brother’s estate, only to discover his late brother’s young son is being raised by his stunning Italian aunt (Loren). Cue culture clashes, family debates, and, of course, romance. It’s not the deepest story, but it’s sweet, fun, and full of colorful views of Naples and Capri that make you want to book a flight immediately.
The Italian Job
Release Date: 1969
Rating: PG
Genre: Action, Comedy, Classic
Location(s) Featured: Turin, Italy
Before the 2003 remake (included below), there was the original Italian Job and they both deserve a spot on this list of movies set in Italy. This British heist film stars Michael Caine leading a group of thieves in a daring gold robbery in Turin. The famous getaway sequence involving Mini Coopers weaving through the streets (and even down staircases) is still considered one of the best car chases ever filmed. It’s cheeky, stylish, and very much a product of its time, but it’s also a blast. If you love clever heists and vintage cool, this one’s for you.
Cinema Paradiso
Release Year: 1988
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama, Classic
Location(s) Featured: Sicily, Italy
This award-winning Italian film is a nostalgic love letter to cinema itself. It follows Salvatore, a famous filmmaker who returns to his Sicilian hometown after decades away when his mentor, the local projectionist, dies. Through flashbacks, we see his childhood, his first love, and his discovery of movies as both escape and passion. It’s a long, emotional journey (especially in the extended cut), but it’s worth every minute for film lovers. The music, the setting, and the heartfelt story make this an essential Italian film.
Enchanted April
Release Date: 1991
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama, Self-Discovery/Change
Location(s) Featured: Portofino, Italy
Based on Elizabeth von Arnim’s 1922 novel, The Enchanted April tells the story of four English women who leave behind dreary London for a month in an Italian castle. In the sunshine of Portofino, they rediscover themselves, form unexpected friendships, and find new joy in life. It’s a feel-good movie with gorgeous scenery and a message about the restorative power of escape. (And the book it’s based on is included in my list of Books Set in Italy.)
The Postman (Il Postino)
Release Year: 1994
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama, Romance
Location(s) Featured: Procida, Naples, Italy
This gentle, poetic film tells the story of a shy postman on a small Italian island who delivers mail to the exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. Through their conversations, the postman learns about poetry, love, and expression—changing his life in the process. Filmed on the island of Procida near Naples, the movie is as lyrical as its setting. It’s a slow, thoughtful film about friendship and the beauty of words. The film was nominated for and won A LOT of awards all over the world.
Only You
Release Date: 1994
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Location(s) Featured: Rome, Venice, and Tuscany, Italy
Marisa Tomei stars as a woman who impulsively flies to Italy after a fortune teller predicts her soulmate’s name. Chasing destiny, she runs into Robert Downey Jr.—and the two tumble through Italy’s most romantic settings: gondola rides in Venice, Tuscan countryside picnics, and Rome’s bustling streets. It’s a whimsical 90s rom-com that’s pure escapism.
Note from Jen: I hadn’t heard of this movie (I wasn’t in my 90’s romance era yet) until working on this list, so I immediately watched it…and loved it!
The English Patient
Release Year: 1996
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Romance, War
Location(s) Featured: Tuscany, Italy
This sweeping Oscar-winning epic is set partly in a ruined Tuscan villa at the end of WWII, where a Canadian nurse cares for a mysterious, badly burned man. Through flashbacks, his story unfolds across Europe and North Africa. It’s poetic, tragic, and visually stunning, with Tuscany as a haunting backdrop.
Note from Jen: The English Patient (and a few others on this list) are also included on my list of Romance Travel Movies.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Release Date: 1999
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Mystery/Crime
Location(s) Featured: Italian Coast, Naples, Rome, Venice, Italy
Matt Damon plays Tom Ripley, a young man who worms his way into the glamorous life of wealthy Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) on the Italian coast. Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, and Philip Seymour Hoffman round out the cast in this stylish, chilling thriller. The story explores identity, obsession, and deceit, with Italy’s sun-drenched coastlines as the backdrop. Even though much of the filming was plagued by rain, the movie’s lush visuals make it unforgettable.
Note from Jen: I was on a 90’s thriller kick during COVID and this movie was one of the best I watched—talented actors, an exciting plot, and a beautiful setting!
The Lizzie McGuire Movie
Release Year: 2003
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Family
Location(s) Featured: Rome, Italy
Sometimes you just need a lighthearted watch, and The Lizzie McGuire Movie delivers. Lizzie heads to Rome on a school trip, only to be mistaken for a pop star’s doppelgänger. Cue musical numbers, teenage drama, and lots of Roman landmarks. It’s silly, fun, and pure nostalgia for anyone who grew up watching the Disney Channel.
Note from Jen: This was another one that I hadn’t seen before researching this list, but it just kept coming up in my research…and it really is just cheesy teenage fun!
Under the Tuscan Sun
Release Date: 2003
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Romance, Self-Discovery
Location(s) Featured: Tuscany, Italy
Diane Lane stars as Frances Mayes, who, after her marriage falls apart, impulsively buys a crumbling villa in Tuscany. As she renovates the house, she also rebuilds her life—finding friendship, challenges, and a bit of romance along the way. Loosely based on Mayes’s memoir (see my Under the Tuscan Sun book review), the film takes a more whimsical, romantic approach, but it’s just as inspiring.
Note from Jen: Even though the book and movie are actually really different, I really loved both. Find out more in my Under the Tuscan Sun Movie Review and Under the Tuscan Sun Book/Movie Club Discussion Guide. You can also visit (and stay in!) Mayes’s home Bramasole in Cortona…if you can afford the hefty pricetag.
The Italian Job
Release Year: 2003
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Heist
Location(s) Featured: Venice, Italy
The original is listed above, but this remake of the 1969 classic is a slick action film starring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, and Jason Statham. The film opens in Venice with an elaborate heist involving canals, gondolas, and twists galore. It’s stylish, fun, and features one of the best Mini Cooper chase sequences on film.
Note from Jen: I remember when this movie came out—it was a thrilling movie, had so many of my favorite actors in it AND had stunning scenery…win win! And if you’re looking for more action movies set in Italy, two of the Robert Langdon Series Movies take place there: Angels & Demons in Rome and Inferno in Venice and Florence.
I Am Love
Release Date: 2009
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Romance
Location(s) Featured: Milan, Italy
Directed by Luca Guadagnino (he also directed Call Me By Your Name included below), this film stars Tilda Swinton as Emma Recchi, the wife of a wealthy Milanese industrialist. When she falls in love with a young chef, her carefully constructed world unravels. It’s a slow, sensual film about love, food, and identity, set in the elegance of Milan.
Letters to Juliet
Release Year: 2010
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Location(s) Featured: Verona and Tuscany, Italy
Amanda Seyfried plays Sophie, a young woman on vacation in Verona who discovers a decades-old letter to Juliet (yes, from Romeo & Juliet) tucked into a wall. When she discovers a group of women who write replies to these letters, she joins them and her response sparks a cross-generational romance…which of course leads to sweeping adventures in Tuscany. It’s sweet, cheesy, and full of gorgeous Italian countryside shots.
Note from Jen: This is secretly one of my favorite movies and one I turn to when I need a pick-me-up. It’s a reminder about being true to one self and true to love. (I also recommend this Verona tour to learn all about Romeo and Juliet and the real letters to Juliet.)
Eat, Pray, Love
Release Date: 2010
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Romance, Self-Discovery
Location(s) Featured: Naples and Rome, Italy
Based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir, Eat, Pray, Love follows Julia Roberts as she spends a year abroad rediscovering herself. Technically, only one-third of the movie is set in Italy, but it’s a great section…all about food and pleasure—eating pasta in Rome, pizza in Naples, and learning to embrace la dolce vita. While the film condenses the book, it still captures the sensory joys of Italian food and culture.
Note from Jen: Find out more about my thoughts on the movie (and how it compares to the book) in my Eat, Pray, Love Movie Review. Or host a themed movie night and use my Eat, Pray, Love Book/Movie Club Discussion Guide!
Call Me By Your Name
Release Date: 2017
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, Drama
Location(s) Featured: Lombardy, Italy
The 2017 award-winning film adaptation of the book included above captures that same hazy, sun-drenched feeling of a summer that changes everything. Set in the 1980s in northern Italy, it tells the story of Elio, a precocious 17-year-old, and Oliver, the charming visiting scholar staying with his family for the summer. Their slow-burn romance unfolds against the backdrop of lazy afternoons, classical music, and the golden Italian countryside. Like most adaptations, it differs from the book in tone and detail. So you probably should try both!
Luca
Release Year: 2021
Rating: PG
Genre: Animation, Family
Location(s) Featured: Italian Riveria (Cinque Terre), Italy
Pixar’s Luca is a colorful, charming film set in a fictional seaside town inspired by Cinque Terre. Luca and Alberto, two young sea monsters, disguise themselves as human boys to explore the town—eating gelato, riding Vespas, and forming friendships. It’s joyful, heartwarming, and a love letter to Italian summers.
Note from Jen: This is, of course, a great choice for young children coming to visit Italy. They’ll love seeing the version in real life!
House of Gucci
Release Year: 2021
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Biopic
Location(s) Featured: Milan, Florence, Lake Como, and Rome, Italy
Lady Gaga and Adam Driver star in this true-crime drama about the Gucci family empire and the murder of Maurizio Gucci. With a cast including Jared Leto, Al Pacino, and Jeremy Irons, the film is as stylish and over-the-top as its fashion world setting. Filmed across Milan, Rome, Florence, and Lake Como, the scenery alone is worth the watch.
Note from Jen: You can learn all about Milan’s fashion district on this great walking tour.
Final Thoughts on Movies Set in Italy
Italy has long been the backdrop for unforgettable films, from old Hollywood romances to modern dramas and even Pixar animations. These movies set in Italy highlight not just the country’s breathtaking scenery but also its drama, humor, and timeless charm.
Whether you’re craving a black-and-white classic, a sweeping epic, or a lighthearted rom-com, there’s something here to inspire your next movie night—or maybe even your next trip.
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