The Best Movies Set in Rome

Now, for the scenery. The Italy segment starts with a gondola ride and beautiful shots of Venice, followed by shots of the Tuscan countryside as they drive to Rome.

The most significant chunk of the film plays out in Rome. We get establishing shots of the Colosseum, Castel Sant'Angelo, Chiesa Nuova (aka Santa Maria in Vallicella church), the Victor Emanuel Monument II, and the Fountain of the Naiads on the Piazza della Repubblica.

Faith and sister-in-law Kate, who's along for the adventure, hunt for Bradley at Piazza Navona. They stay at Pensione Divino Amore (fictional) and eat at Galeassi Ristorante (real).

After Faith and Peter's meet cute, they spend a magical night wandering through Piazza Santa Maria Trastavere, and Capitoline Hill (where he buys her a rose and they recite poetry). In homage to Roman Holiday (see below), they recreate the La Boca della Verita scene at Santa Maria in Cosmedin, doing imitations of Gregory Peck's voice as they stick their hands in the mouth of truth. They slow dance on the Ponte dei Quattro Capi at night while a street musician plays.

We also see a glimpse of one of the angels on the Passetto di Borgio (aka Ponte Sant'Angelo, the bridge to Castel Sant Angelo), the Neptune fountain at Piazza Navona, and Piazza del Popolo. Kate meets a handsome Italian man of her own, and dines with him on the panoramic rooftop at The American Bar at The Forum Hotel .

After Rome, they head of to Positano, where we're treated to breathtaking views along the Amalfi coast.

Favorite Scenes: There's a scene I like from when they first arrive in Rome, where they ask their taxi driver if he knows where the store they're looking for is, and the camera pans out to show the driver literally driving them in a "U" from one side of Piazza Navona to the other (a distance they could've walked in 30 seconds).

And I love this line from the concierge in Venice, warning Faith and Kate about the impending general strike in Rome, where they're headed. "Rome? Tomorrow? Tomorrow is sciopero generale. Everyone will be on strike." Then he adds an apathetic, "Good luck," and dismisses them. It's funny because it's true.

Photo: Mouth of Truth Poster, available on Amazon.

When In Rome  

Though panned by critics, I thought this movie was super cute. It's a modern day fairy tale, so as long as one doesn't go into it expecting any reality, I think any fan of Romantic Comedies would enjoy it.

The title, however, is misleading, because most of the movie takes place in New York City. You don't really see much of Rome at all. There are some establishing shots of the Pantheon, St. Peter's Square, the Vittorio Emanuele monument, etc., but the most of the Rome scenes were shot on a lot, and the "Fontana di amore" fountain that plays a central role in the film is fictional.

One reason I liked this movie so much is that there were so many funny actors in it that I didn't even realize were in the movie. You probably know the film stars Kristen Bell (of Veronica Mars fame) and Josh Duhamel, but I had no idea that I'd see Bobby Monynihan from SNL, Kate Micucci from Fox's Raising Hope and Garfunkel & Oates, Anjelica Houston as the b!#chy boss, Will Arnett as a love-crazed Italian artist, Danny DeVito, Dax Shephard from NBC's Parenthood, and Jon Heder (from Napoleon Dynamite), doing a hilarious, very thinly veiled Criss Angel impersonation.

In addition to the ensemble cast, When In Rome is chock full of cameos, including Efren Ramirez (Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite--remember "Vote for Pedro?"), Flight of the Conchords' Kristen Schaal in a hilarious bit part (she always steals the show), Lee Pace from Pushing Dasies, Ghostface Killah, Shaquille O'Neal, Laurence Taylor, Peggy Lipton, and Don Johnson.

Three Coins In the Fountain  

Three American women wish for love with a coin toss at the fabled Trevi Fountain.

Stay near the Trevi Fountain on your trip to Rome >>

La Dolce Vita  

If Roman Holiday romanticized Rome, then La Dolce Vita offers a sobering dose of reality. Frederico Fellini's meandering masterpiece La Dolce Vita ("The Sweet Life") covers a lot of ground.

The story centers on the aimless Marcello, who seems unable to resist the temptations of the high society lifestyle he covers as a tabloid journalist in Rome. (The film introduced the word "paparazzo" -- the singular form of "paparazzi" -- as a term for guerilla-style celebrity photojournalists.)

Fellini was all about shock value, and there's a laundry list of things in this film that the Catholic Church found offensive, which only added to its buzz.

La Dolce Vita is an episodic film (think Pulp Fiction). Instead of a singular plot, it plays out in self-contained mini-stories or episodes, that when taken all together sum up to a central idea. Don't look for a satisfying resolution, because there really isn't one. Just enjoy Fellini's over-the-top images, set against the backdrop of Rome.

Check out these movies about Ancient and Medieval Rome. You won't see much of actual Rome in these films, which makes sense, because you can't show modern Rome on screen while depicting Ancient Rome. Still, these films employ elaborate set design, costumes, and graphics to tell the stories of how the Eternal City came to be the Rome we know today.

The 1951 epic Quo Vadis stars Robert Taylor (as Emperor Nero) and Deborah Kerr. It was nominated for 8 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Costume Design, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Art Direction.

Gladiator won 5 of the 12 Oscars for which it was nominated, including Best Picture, Best Costume Design, and Best Visual Effects. Russell Crowe won the Oscar for Best Actor, Joaquin Phoenix was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, and Ridley Scott was nominated for Best Director.

In The Agony and the Ecstasy, Charleton Heston stars as the tortured Michelangelo, commissioned to paint the Sistine Chapel by Pope Julius II. Much of the action takes place in a replica of the chapel.

Experience Ancient Rome with a Skip the Line Ancient Rome and Colosseum Half-Day Walking Tour >>

Quo Vadis

Gladiator

The Agony and the Ecstasy

Angels & Demons  

Tom Hanks and Ewan McGregor star in Dan Brown's prequel (the film version is a sequel) to The Da Vinci Code. Dr. Robert Langdon's hunt for the Illuminati takes him around the city of Rome. It's a thriller, right up to the shocking twist at the end.

Though I didn't care much for the plot, the most intriguing part of this film to me is how Ron Howard managed to get it made in the first place, given that he couldn't officially film inside Vatican City or any Roman Catholic churches, and given that word about filming leaked out, attracting droves of tourists and gawkers to the shooting locations.

A lot of the film uses green screens and studio recreations based on footage and photos the crew took while posing as tourists. The sets include the Pantheon interior, the Passetto di Borgo (bridge from the Vatican to Castel St. Angelo), Piazza Navona, all the Rome church scenes and all the Vatican City scenes, including the Vatican library, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica.

So what's real, you ask? The film features the real exterior of the Pantheon and Castel Sant Angelo, as well as the real Piazza del Popolo and real shots of city streets.

Real or fake, the sites featured in Angels & Demons are the ones that would be on any tourist's Rome itinerary, making this film a must-watch for Rome movie lovers.

Eat Pray Love  

Based on the best-selling book by Elizabeth Gilbert. You probably already know the story: Liz realizes the life everyone expects for her isn't the one she wants. After a bitter divorce, a disastrous rebound love affair, and a nervous breakdown, Liz travels the world on a journey of self-discovery.

She spends the first third of her grand adventure in Rome. We see Liz in Piazza Navona, eating gelato (from San Crispino, according to the book) in front of Sant'Agnese in Agone, touring the Augusteum, and wandering Rome's city streets. Eat Pray Love gives us beautiful vistas of the city and Rome's landmarks, making this a great movie for anyone seeking an armchair vacation to Rome.

As for the plot, critics said it lacked emotional depth and any sense of true self-revelation by Gilbert -- and I have to agree. But I honestly didn't expect to enjoy Eat Pray Love as much as I did. The travel adventure, the scenery and the interesting people she encountered along her journey compensated for the character's hollowness, in this travel lover's opinion.

I like the idea of her finding one's self through travel, and I related to the way Liz made true connections everywhere she went. Another good thing about EPL? Delightful appearances from Richard Jenkins (Best Actor Oscar nominee for The Visitor) and Javier Bardem!

When In Rome  

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen star as sisters with summer internships in Rome.