FILMS AND TV SHOWS SHOT ON THE AMALFI COAST

1. A masterpiece of Neorealism, Roberto Rossellini's film Paisà (1946) was mainly shot in the village of Maiori. In particular, the opening sequence is set on the beach and near the Norman Tower. The alleys of the village also appear, as well as the Convent of San Domenico. Rossellini chose Maiori to depict the misery of the post-war period and the encounter between American soldiers and the local population, also using non-professional actors such as the young Alfonso Bovino in the role of the scugnizzo (that is a Neapolitan street urchin) Pasquale to increase the realism of the work.

2. Positano is also featured in other films, including Vittorio Caprioli's Leoni al sole (1961), Only You (1994) starring Marisa Tomei and a very young Robert Downey Jr, and Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) starring Diane Lane and Raoul Bova. Here, Positano often serves as the backdrop for romantic love stories, with its characteristic dreamlike locations. If you want to learn more about all the films set in Positano, read our dedicated article! 

3. The Neapolitan actor and director Alessandro Siani also used coastal locations as the backdrop for his stories in one of his first film projects. In Si accettano miracoli (2015), part of the story is set in Scala, the oldest village on the coast. The church of Minuta, in a hamlet of the village, appears as the parish church, played by Fabio de Luigi. The Saracen tower of Conca dei Marini also appears in some shots, and many other scenes feature characteristic views of Atrani, Ravello, and the coastal areas of Furore.

4. The Amalfi Coast also plays a key role in the film Wonder Woman (2017): our locations become the paradise island of Themyscira, birthplace of the Amazons and Diana (Gal Gadot). In particular, Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, with its magnificent terraces, appears in the scenes where the Amazons gaze out at the sea. An interesting fact in this regard is that the American production chose the Campania coast (including that of Cilento) for its Mediterranean charm and characteristic cliffs, considered ideal for recreating the beauty of the imaginary Themyscira.   

5. In 2020, it was the turn of Christopher Nolan, the famous American director, to choose Amalfi and, once again, Villa Cimbrone as the location for his film Tenet. The scene in which the motorboat driven by John David Washington moves away from the coast, with the cathedral of Amalfi clearly visible, is iconic. Villa Cimbrone, on the other hand, is the home of the evil Sator, perched on a promontory, while the Oscar Niemeyer auditorium in Ravello was used as the crew's headquarters during filming.

1. You will surely remember the Netflix series that became a global hit a few years ago: Sense8, in which a group of young people around the world share paranormal powers. In the second season, Positano was chosen as the setting for some of the episodes, particularly its beach, the landscape, and some local villas.

2. In 2024, Netflix decided to produce a new TV show, based on the book The Talented Mr. Ripley, which had already been adapted into a famous movie back in 1999. This time, the show is simply titled Ripley. Unlike the film, which was set between Ischia and Procida, director Zaillian chose the magnificent views of the Amalfi Coast as the backdrop for the dark and intriguing story of the protagonist Tom Ripley, played by acclaimed Irish actor Andrew Scott. This time, Atrani appears, with Piazza Umberto I, the seafront, and the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maddalena. Filming the series here has had a huge impact on the village! The success of the show has greatly increased tourist interest in this tiny coastal town, transforming it into a ‘cool’ destination that is a must-visit for Italian and international tourists alike. Furthermore, the decision to shoot the series in black and white allowed the director to capture the essence of the place, further enhancing its charm and evoking an atmosphere suspended in time. 

3. We conclude with one of the latest Amazon Prime releases: the series Hotel Costiera (2025) starring Jesse Williams as a former US Marine with Italian roots who decides to return to live and work in his hometown of Positano. The series combines mystery, action, and irony, and the events unfold against the backdrop of the pearl of the Amalfi Coast. In particular, exclusive locations such as Villa Treville, which embodies the hotel of the title, are recognizable.

If you are a fan of movies and TV shows, and you are curious to see the locations of the films in person and retrace the steps of your favorite actors, then follow these tips! From the list we have drawn up, we can outline a specific itinerary of the locations most loved by Italian and foreign directors: start from Amalfi, as the cathedral often appears in aerial and sea shots; then travel the short distance to the tiny village of Atrani to visit the places where Tom Ripley lived. A walk in Positano is also a must, both along the city streets and along the beach (or perhaps at sunset, as in “Only You”!), and of course, don't forget to visit Villa Cimbrone in Ravello to relive iconic moments such as those in Wonder Woman or Tenet. 

In short, the Amalfi Coast is a veritable open-air stage: with its light, its landscapes, and its eternal charm, it always adds that extra touch of magic to all the films and shows that choose it as their location!