Film Locations in Sicily

Cefalù

Bruno Cariello and Sergio Castellitto in The Wedding Director (Il regista di matrimoni, Marco Bellocchio 2006)

 

Sergio Castellitto on his way up la rocca di Cefalù in The Wedding Director (Il regista di matrimoni, Marco Bellocchio 2006)

 

Cinema Paradiso: Outdoor scene filmed at the old port, Cefalù.

Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (original title)

Noto

Claudia (Monica Vitti) is surrounded by men as she is waiting for Sandro (Gabriele Ferzetti) by the steps of Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi all'Immacolata, which is the first church you see after entering Porta Reale in Noto. The scene is quoted almost image by image in the third episode of The White Lotus season 2.

 

 

One scene in Antonioni's L'avventura takes place on the terrace of the San Carlo's bell-tower in Noto. Gabriele Ferzetti and Monica Vitti.

 

 

       

 

 

Gabriele Ferzetti in Antonioni's L'avventura, a film that for the most part takes place in Sicily. In the background: Noto cathedral.

 

Scala dei turchi

The world famous cliff in Realmonte (near Agrigento) called "Scala dei turchi" (Stair of the Turks). The cliff was used in Giuseppe Tornatore's film Malèna, in the scene where the boys are measuring the size of their penises.

Photo: Per-Erik Skramstad / Wonders of Sicily

 

Bagheria

 

Dolce and Gabbana commercial with Sophia Loren. Location is the Villa Valguarnera, Bagheria. Director: Giuseppe Tornatore. Music: Ennio Morricone.

 

 

The Wedding Director (Il regista di matrimoni, Marco Bellocchio 2006). Sergio Castellitto looking at the "monsters".

 

The Hall of mirrors in Villa Palagonia (Bagheria, Palermo) is an early example of the so called Sicilian Baroque. It is used in Antonioni's L'Avventura (1960) and other films. Photo: Per-Erik Skramstad / Wonders of Sicily

 

Sergio Castellitto in The Hall of Mirrors, Villa Palagonia: The Wedding Director (Il regista di matrimoni, Marco Bellocchio 2006)

 

 

Villa Palagonia in Tornatore's film Baarìa

Baarìa (Giuseppe Tornatore)

This is how the little boy in "Baarìa" is picturing how Villa Palagonia's entrance looked like a couple of years before. (Screenshot from Baarìa.)

 

Baarìa (Giuseppe Tornatore)

One of the entrances of Villa Palagonia in Bagheria. Baarìa is Sicilian for Bagheria.
(Screenshot from Baarìa.)

 

Baarìa (Giuseppe Tornatore)

The awestruck and a bit scared boys in "Baarìa" looking at the monsters. (Screenshot from Baarìa.)

 

Baarìa (Giuseppe Tornatore)

Villa Palagonia's wonderful double flight of stairs. (Screenshot from Baarìa.)

 

 

Villa Palagonia in Michelangelo Antonioni's film L'Avventura (1960)

Scene shot in Villa Palagonia

The hall of mirrors in Villa Palagonia, used in a scene in Michelangelo Antonioni's film L'Avventura (1960).

 

Scene shot in Villa Palagonia

(L'Avventura)

 

L'Avventura (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1960)

Gabriele Ferzetti as the male protagonist searching for his girl friend Anna. (Screenshot from L'Avventura (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1960)

 

L'Avventura (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1960)

Villa Palagonia's double flight of stairs. (L'Avventura)

 

 

Siracusa

Malèna (Piazza Duomo, Siracusa)

The Piazza Duomo in Syracuse (Siracusa) plays an important part in Tornatore's beautiful film Malèna.

Ragusa

The Star Maker ("L'uomo delle stelle", Giuseppe Tornatore)

Ragusa Ibla seen from Ragusa Superiore: Sergio Castellitto in The Star Maker (1995) "L'uomo delle stelle" (Giuseppe Tornatore).

 

       

 

 

 

Ragusa Ibla.

 

 

The beautiful piazza in front of the Duomo in Ragusa is used as a location in many films.

Photo: Per-Erik Skramstad / Wonders of Sicily

 

The farmers demand their own cemetary in the Taviani brothers' masterpiece Kaos. Location: Piazza Duomo, Ragusa.

 

      

Palermo

The Leopard

The Palazzo Valguarnera Gangi on Piazza Croce dei Vespri in Palermo was used for the great ballroom scene.

Hannibal

Cappella Palatina was used in an episode of the TV series Hannibal. Hannibal was an American psychological thriller–horror television series developed by Bryan Fuller for NBC. The series premiered on NBC on 4 April 2013. On 22 June 2015, NBC canceled Hannibal after three seasons because of low ratings.

Segesta

Chaos (Kaos)

Segesta seen from the raven's point of view. Screenshot from the opening sequence of Kaos (directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani). The film depicts four Pirandello short stories.

 

 

 

Sicily in the Movies

• The Godfather I-III (Francis Ford Coppola)
• L'avventura (Michelangelo Antonioni)
• Kaos (Paolo and Vittorio Taviani)
• Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (International title: Cinema Paradiso), (Giuseppe Tornatore)
• Baarìa (Giuseppe Tornatore)
• Malèna (Giuseppe Tornatore)
• The Star Maker (1995) "L'uomo delle stelle" (Giuseppe Tornatore)
• La terra trema (Luchino Visconti)
• The Big Blue (Luc Besson)