Movie clapper and film reel on table, closeup (liudmilachernetska (123RF))

Home to the beautiful Amalfi coast, clusters of trulli, the dry stone huts, in Alberobello, the beautiful mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Sicily. The south of Italy is filled with beautiful scenery. From the Amalif coast and Alberobello’s stone trulli huts to the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Sicily, it makes sense that many cinema and television favorites have been filmed in southern Italy. Here are some locations you can visit to step into your favorite movie.

“Star Wars” fans have so much to look forward to in southern Italy.  Inside the Royal Palace of Caserta you will recognize scenes from “The Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones.” The interior of the palace was used as the Theed Royal Palace, especially the upper vestibule and grand staircase where Queen Amidala is often seen with her entourage.

Due to the opulence of this large palace, it is also a reoccurring setting for Catholic-themed films. Most recently, “Conclave,” but other films like “Angels & Demons” as well as “The Two Popes” were filmed at the palace.

While in the Campania region, we can’t skip over the (in)famous “Eat, Pray, Love” film. The pizza spot they visit is in Naples: L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele. The restaurant was renowned before the film came out and they are still known for the best pizza in Naples.

View of San Domenico (Anna Delange)

Arguably the most well-known film franchise set in Sicily is “The Godfather.” Sicilians know that they are famous for the franchise, and you’ll find tours and souvenirs around the island. The town of Savoca is one of the most famous filming locations. It is where Michael Corleone begins his exile and where he meets Apollonia. Bar Vitelli is the famous bar in the film, and you can still visit today to have a drink and see some original memorabilia and photos. Another notable spot to visit is the Teatro Massimo in Palermo. The theater is one of Europe’s grandest opera houses and is featured in “The Godfather Part III.”

In more recent times, Sicily has been on the small screen with the hit HBO show “The White Lotus.” Season two was filmed at the Four-Seasons San Domenico Hotel located in Taormina. You can see a beautiful view of the hotel from the main square, Piazza IX Aprile. If you’ve been to Taormina, you may have been confused about the coastline in the first episode. They walk to a beach in the first scene, but in reality, the shores in Taormina are rocky. Cefalu is actually where the beach scene was filmed. Another popular show filmed in Cefalu and other locations in Sicily, is the Netflix romantic drama starring Zoe Saldana, “From Scratch.”

The island of Favignana is a lesser-known tourist spot, but they are expecting to see a surge of popularity soon due to “The Odyssey” releasing in the summer of 2026. The film has a star-studded cast directed by Christopher Nolan, and parts of it were filmed on the islands around Sicily, especially Favignana.

The famous story of a living wooden puppet was created in Italy, and a lot of the live-action 2019 “Pinocchio” film has scenes set in Apulia. The Blue Fairy’s house setting is in Masseria Patrone, some of Toyland is in Ostuni, the shark is seen on the coast of Polignano a Mare, and the Nojano Citizen Theater in Noicattaro is the Eater’s Theater. In addition, many outdoor shots were taken in Alta Murgia National Park.

The DC film, “Wonder Woman” also features numerous scenes filmed in Italy’s heal. Beach and coastal scenes occur along the Cilento Coast, while Villa Cimbrone in Ravello is Queen Hippolyta’s balcony. The Amazon’s city of Themyscira and their training grounds were filmed at the village of Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Matera is also used in the James Bond film “No Time to Die.” Many of the exterior village scenes were shot in Matera, But for the overhead shots, it was blended with shots of Gravina di Puglia to create a scenic village with white washed homes and an aqueduct. In other scenes, Bond’s love interest Madeleine swims along the rocky coast, filmed in the town of Maratea and pair were filmed driving along the SS18 below the Torre dei Crivi between Sapri and Acquafredda.

View at coastline in Taormina with clear turquoise water at the mediterranean sea on a sunny day, Sicily, Italy (sesonnen (123RF))