Lake Como has become one of the most recognizable destinations in the world, thanks in part to the numerous films shot in its most iconic settings. Historic villas, lakeside villages, and spectacular landscapes have served as backdrops for international productions, Hollywood blockbusters, and award-winning films.
Today, the lake is a beloved destination for travelers and film enthusiasts who wish to discover where films on Lake Como were shot and visit in person the locations seen on the big screen. From famous film sets to more refined productions, the area offers a unique experience combining cinema and landscape.
Following the cinematic locations of Lake Como means experiencing the area in a different way, transforming the journey into a path through history, culture, and movie-worthy scenery.
Lake Como Between Cinema and Landscape
Lake Como has always been a source of inspiration for the world of cinema. Its elegant landscapes, historic villas overlooking the water, and villages suspended between lake and mountains have made this area one of the most iconic locations for Italian and international productions.
Over the years, Lake Como has been chosen as a set for numerous films, television series, and commercials, becoming a true open-air cinematic setting. Directors and productions from around the world have found here a unique combination of natural beauty, architecture, and atmosphere, capable of adapting to romantic stories, thrillers, and major Hollywood productions.
Major Hollywood Productions
Among the most frequently used locations are places such as Villa del Balbianello, one of the lake’s most celebrated residences, featured in highly successful international films including 007 James Bond – Casino Royale (2006) with Daniel Craig, and Star Wars – Episode 2 – Attack of the Clones (2002). The villas of the central lake have always held great value for directors of major productions; a prime example is Ocean’s Twelve with George Clooney and Brad Pitt, which was filmed at Villa Erba in Cernobbio and Villa Oleandra in Laglio—now owned by George himself—and Villa Balbiano in the major success House of Gucci, featuring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, and Jared Leto.
But Lake Como’s appeal to great directors is written in cinema history: Sergio Leone filmed numerous scenes in Bellagio for his Once Upon a Time in America (1984) with Robert DeNiro; Federico Fellini himself chose Brunate as the natural set for A Woman Unknown (1970), unfortunately an unfinished project that nonetheless carries several anecdotes of Fellini in the Como area. And how can we not mention the enchanting Greta Garbo in Grand Hotel (1932) by Edmond Goulding, filmed at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Tremezzina. Finally, it is remarkable how even just the thought of Lake Como is a winning narrative element: this is the case with Barney’s Version (2011) by Richard Lewis, where Paul Giamatti confides that he won over a beautiful woman during a vacation in Italy on Lake Como.
Italian Cinema
Italian cinema has also frequently utilized the scenery of Lake Como as a set of extraordinary beauty. The stories intertwine with the area’s distinctive features, incorporating the landscape as an additional protagonist. The proximity to Milan and Switzerland makes Lake Como a perfect location in the screenplay as well.
The ambassador of Lake Como in the immortal world of cinema is undoubtedly Luchino Visconti: from his Villa Erba in Cernobbio, he conceived his finest cinematic projects. In Bellagio, he set Rocco and His Brothers (1960) with Alain Delon and Claudia Cardinale.
We find examples of great auteur cinema, such as Piccolo Mondo Antico (1941) by Mario Soldati, based on the novel of the same name by Antonio Fogazzaro: one villa where the film is set is precisely Villa Fogazzaro Roi in Valsolda. Immortal is the work of the Taviani brothers with Allonsanfan (1974) featuring Marcello Mastroianni, set in the green Brianza, between Villa Amalia in Erba and the agricultural area of Merone and Costa Masnaga. Also in Brianza, specifically in Alserio, scenes from What a Beautiful Day (2011) by Gennaro Nunziante are set, which with Checco Zalone and this film achieved incredible box office records.
Other examples of major Italian successes are Human Capital (2013) by Paolo Virzì with Fabrizio Bentivoglio and Valeria Golino, which utilized the Politeama in Como; The Worst Week of My Life (2011) by Alessandro Genovesi with Fabio De Luigi and Cristiana Capotondi was filmed between Menaggio and the villages of the Upper Lake; My Best Enemy (2006) by and with Carlo Verdone filmed in Menaggio.
For many visitors, Lake Como is not just a tourist destination, but a place to explore by following the traces of cinema. Indeed, more and more travelers choose to discover where films on Lake Como were shot, transforming the journey into an itinerary among iconic locations and big-screen landscapes.