Florence in the films

Florence is a beautiful decor for movies and although this is not a complete list, these films will give you some very good scenes in Florence.

A room with a  stunning view!

A room with a view (1985)

Of course this one cannot miss in a list with films set in Florence. Lucy Honeychurch goes to Florence and is disappointed when she finds out she does not have a view over the Arno from her hotelroom.

George Emerson and his father who are also at the hotel offer to change rooms. If you visit Florence for the first time, you must have a room with view.

Lucy and the Emersons get better acquainted, but what will happen when Lucy gets back to England with her fiancé?

This is a fine costume drama, based on a novel by E.M. Forster. The scenes where Lucy goes to see the sights with her travelguide are amazing!

Helena Bonham-Carter, Maggie Smith and Denholm Eliott are always good to watch.

Tea with Mussolini (1999)

This charming film is set in 1935 and is about a groups of well-born English ladies who have settled in Florence to enjoy all Florence has to offer. One of them adopts a half-orphan, because his father wants him to have a proper English education. 

When WWII breaks out they worry about protecting all the art in Florence, but also about the fate of one of them. 

Actrices as Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright but als Cher as a rich American who is involved with the English ladies are at their best in this fine film by Franco Zeffirelli.

Hannibal Lecter with the Ponte Vecchio in the background

Hannibal (2001)

This films was the sequal to Silcence of the lambs. Hannibal Lecter had escaped and fled to Italy. He is a highly educated man and speaks fluently Italian. He know the history of Florence and manages to get a job as museum curator. 

But when a corrupt policeman tries to deliver him into the hands of his enemy, Lecter must act. He punishes the policeman by using the same sentence as his ancestors had when they rose against the Medici family. (I will not get into the nasty details here)

Beautiful images of Florence are the most important reason to watch this film, although it is not a bad thriller.

With Anthony Hopkins as Lecter and Giancarlo Giannini as police inspector.

Matteo (Alessio Boni) and Nicola (Luigi Lo Cascio)

La meglio gioventú (2003) (The best of youth)

This is the most beautiful Italian series I ever watched. It is about the brother Nicola and Matteo, who both follow different paths in their lives and who lost contact at a certain point.

But when Florence floods in 1966 they meet each other. Matteo is a police officer who is send there, and Nicola is one of the many volunteers who came to help.

This flood is an important moment in the recent history of Florence. It was the first time in a long time that the river rose that high and threatened to destroy much of the statues and other art in the city. Volunteers from all over Italy came to Florence to help. It is a beautiful moment and in the series it is touching because the brothers see each other again after a long time.