5 films set in Tuscany to travel with the imagination

The expression ‘Dolce Vita’ immediately recalls the Felliniesque atmosphere that characterised the golden age of Italian cinema and beyond! Tuscany, where Laika was founded in 1964 and where it is still based today, is a film set of excellence: with its fascinating landscapes and unique works of art, this region has been chosen as the setting for their films by many international directors. Laika takes you on a discovery of 5 films set in Tuscany that have captured the magic and atmosphere of this marvellous region.

Under the Tuscan Sun

“Under the Tuscan Sun” by Audrey Wells is a 2003 film that tells the story of Frances Mayes, played by Diane Lane, who leaves San Francisco to move to Tuscany after her recent divorce, deciding to buy an old country house in Cortona. The charm of the Tuscan countryside and new encounters put a smile on her face. A film that will appeal to those with a romantic heart who love dreaming!

A Room with a View

This 1985 film directed by James Ivory is based on the novel of the same name “A Room with a View” by E.M. Forster. Set primarily in Florence, the film tells the story of a young woman named Lucy Honeychurch, played by Helena Bonham Carter, during the conservative culture of the Edwardian era. During a trip to Florence, Lucy falls in love with free spirit George Emerson. Florence and its works are the frame of excellence of this intense and exciting film.

The Twilight Saga

The famous American fantasy saga that began in 2008 consists of 5 films based on Stephanie Meyer’s vampire novel “New Moon”. The films are directed by Chris Weitz and star Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson as Bella Swan and the dark Edward Cullen. Some important scenes of the second episode (called “New Moon” after the novel) were shot in Volterra, an ancient village in the province of Pisa. The evocative alleys of its historical centre – dating back to the fourteenth century – are the background to the protagonists’ adventures. The choice of this location was not accidental: the Volterra witches’ legend has been passed down for generations.

Letters to Juliet

Romantic hearts can’t miss this love film set between Verona and Tuscany. A young American girl (Amanda Seyfried) moves to Verona with her fiancé and finds a letter written fifty years earlier by the English girl Claire, who was in love with a Tuscan boy. Tracing the history of this ancient love will help her understand something important about herself. The vineyards of Vagliagli and Caparzo (in the province of Siena) are the ideal setting for this endless love story.

The Portrait of a Lady

This 1996 film – directed by Jane Campion – is the film adaptation of Henry James’ novel of the same name. Filmed mainly in Florence and Lucca, it features many famous actors such as Nicole Kidman, Barbara Hershey, John Malkovich and many others. The film tells the story of Isabel Archer (Nicole Kidman), an independent young woman who is manipulated by her “friend” Madame Merle and the devious Gilbert Osmond (John Malkovich). A captivating and intense dramatic story framed by the evocative settings of two of Tuscany’s most beautiful cities of art.