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5 Best Movies Shot in Abruzzo

Writer's picture: Destination AbruzzoDestination Abruzzo

Abruzzo has been a film set for countless movies since the 1950s.

The land of Abruzzo has conquered many directors and writers thanks to its natural beauties and breathtaking scenery but also to its most inaccessible and majestic places, as well as to the historical architectural structures and Borghi present throughout the territory.

Below are the 5 most popular international movies shot in Abruzzo!



1 - TALE OF TALES

The spectacular castle of the King is that of Roccascalegna (Ch).

Directed by:

Matteo Garrone

Cast:

Salma Hayek - Vincent Cassel - Toby Jones - Massimo Ceccherini

Year:

2015

Location:

Roccascalegna Castle




2 - THE AMERICAN

Filming in Abruzzo mainly concerned Castel del Monte. Some scenes were shot in Sulmona, Castelvecchio Calvisio and Calascio while some interiors were filmed in the town of Pacentro. The river protagonist of the film is the Aterno whose scenes were shot in the San Venanzio Valley


Directed by:

Anton Corbijn

Cast:

George Clooney - Violante Placido

Year:

2010

Location:

Sulmona

Pacentro

Gorges of San Venanzio Nature Reserve and Hermitage of San Venanzio



Fun Fact:

During the shooting of the movie George Clooney stayed in the Palazzo Colelli which is the most prestigious building among the ancient residences of Castel del Monte.

Destination Abruzzo had the immense privilege and pleasure of being hosted by the current owners and friends as we were invited to join a private gala dinner inside the building itself.

A memorable night spent with great people, great food in the beautiful architectural setting of the Palazzo. And YES we saw the bedroom where George Clooney slept...




3 - IL NOME DELLA ROSA (THE NAME OF THE ROSE)

Shoot some sporadic choices, especially seen at the beginning of the film, showing the beauty of the plain of Campo Imperatore, with the figure of the Calascio Castle in the distance


Directed by:

Jean Jacques Annaud

Cast:

Sean Connery - Christian Slater - Fred Murray Abraham

Year:

1986

Location:

Campo Imperatore

Rocca Calascio














4 - YADO

Partly shot in Campo Imperatore


Directed by:

Richard Fleischer

Cast:

Brigitte Nielsen - Arnold Schwarzenegger - Sandahl Bergman

Year:

1985

Location:

Campo Imperatore





5 - LADYHAWKE

The place from which the thief Philippe Gastone escapes, in the original is Aquila but in the Italian dubbing L’Aquila has become Aguillon. Many scenes in the film were shot in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, in Pereto, in Campo Imperatore (in the Province of L'Aquila), where the hawk is injured. The refuge of the monk and sorcerer Imperius is the Rocca di Calascio, specially modified for scenographic needs with the addition of crowns to the towers (including the one from which Michelle Pfeiffer falls). The distant external view of the village of Aguillon is actually that of Castel del Monte.


Directed by:

Richard Donner

Cast:

Matthew Broderick - Rutger Hauer - Michelle Pfeiffer

Year:

1985

Location:

Rocca Calascio

Campo Imperatore




Your up now! Leave a comment and let us know what's your fevorite movie among the ones listed.

If you have never watched the cited movies, well make sure you put the 5 movies cited on your wach list, you won't be disappointed, also it will be fun spotting all the scenes from Abruzzo.

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