Saagar Kote
‘Parthenope’ is a coming-of-age drama that centers around the tale of a girl named Parthenope (Celeste Dalla Porta), born in the 1950s, who grows up to be a beautiful woman desired by people around her. The narrative explores the trials and tribulations of her youth and her longing for love and happiness, which is not easy to achieve due to her beauty. As she goes through life, she discovers and questions various facets of her soul. The captivating Paolo Sorrentino directorial is a story of heartbreaks, summers, feeling alive, and a search for meaning in picturesque seaside settings exuding mystery and romance.
Parthenope Filming Locations
‘Parthenope’ was filmed in the beautiful landscapes of Italy, especially in Naples, Capri, Genoa, and the Amalfi Coast. Principal photography took place in the summer of 2023. The production team took advantage of the country’s naturally film-friendly settings and historical landmarks. The locations are almost a character by themselves in the narrative of the film, adding flavor, perspective, and dynamism.
Naples, Italy
A significant part of the film is shot in multiple locations in the city of Naples. The film opens with the birth of Parthenope near an old building. This is Villa Lauro, also known as Villa Rocca Matilde, near Mount Vesuvius. It is a 19th-century villa, located on Via Posillipo #222, below Piazza San Luigi, in the neighborhood of Posillipo in Naples. Villa Grotta Marina near the Bay of the Two Friars is the location of the protagonist’s family home. The Villa is one of the historic villas of Naples.
Galleria Umberto is a beautiful public shopping gallery in Naples where parts of the protagonist’s early life were shot. Via San Carlo, a famous street that runs parallel to the popular San Carlo Theater, was seen in certain sections of the film. The theater is the oldest active venue for opera in the world, having been present since 1737. The University of Naples, Federico II, served as a production location to capture Parthenope’s life as a student, which is an important part of the film. The University is one of the oldest, founded by a head of state in 1224. Locations such as Corso Umberto I, Oval Hall, and the staircase of Scalone della Minerva of the University are also featured in the film.
The Lungomare Caraccilo is a beautiful promenade in Naples that has the sea on one side and trees in the Villa Communale on the other. However, this location is used in the narrative to feature a tragic event in the protagonist’s life, and also the cholera outbreak in the region in the 1970s. Spaccanapoli is a long street in Naples that splits the city into two parts. It allowed the makers to explore the darker side of the city, a shift from the beauty and innocence of the protagonist, to her discovering the criminal elements of the town. Lungomare di via Partenope, between the beach of the rotonda Diaz and Castel dell’Ovo and the Certosa di San Martino, a public museum in Naples, are also utilized to film certain scenes. Borgo Marinari, a place of culture, art, and tourism, is featured in a night scene.
An isolated cave in Mergellina is also a part of the film’s imagery. Mergellina is a district along the coast of Naples. The beach of Mergellina is also used to film certain moments in the film. The pool at a secluded villa near Posillipo’s coast near Riva Verde is carved directly into the rock. This makes it a unique creation that remains unaffected by modern sensibilities and renovations. A scene in the film is shot here, which perfectly captures the spirit of the place.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is a historical and religious location in Naples. Known for its Gothic, Baroque, and Neo-Gothic architectural elements, it is the primary place of worship in the city and the seat of the Archdiocese. The Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennero is housed within the Cathedral. The scenes featuring Parthenope and the controversial Bishop are filmed here. Grand Hotel Saint Lucia is the stunning building alongside which the climax of the film is shot. An elderly Parthenope witnesses the celebrations, followed by a championship victory for a local team. The stunning scene features the street located next to the Grand Hotel to illuminate the screen.
Capri, Italy
Capri is an island located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, on the southern part of the Gulf of Naples. The film contains an entire portion that navigates Parthenope’s time spent in the summer in Capri. This is an important part of the film’s narrative. Faraglioni are oceanic rock formations that are utilized in the film to highlight the breathtaking depth of the region’s beauty. These magnificent formations are seen by the characters from the Gardens of Augustus, which are botanical gardens on the Island that were formerly known as ‘Krupp Gardens,’ as they once belonged to an old German Industrialist named ‘Friedrich Alfred Krupp.’ These gardens, which feature terraces, are used in the film to capture the essence of the Faraglioni. There are certain scenes that are filmed on the beaches of the Punta Carena Lighthouse in Anacapri, a stunning setting that adds to the beauty of the film. Located 3 kilometers Southwest of Anacapri, the Lighthouse still remains active after being set up in 1867. Dario Aita, the actor portraying Sandrino, opined that he lost himself in Capri’s nature during filming and that it is a wonderful experience being consumed by natural beauty.
In a Variety interview, Daria D’Antonio, the cinematographer, opined that the sea doesn’t change much as a representation of nature and largely remains the same, but the city and mankind become less beautiful. She said “My representation of the sea makes it so that at one point, it becomes something that’s far away, whereas at first it was a fundamental element for her, because there’s such a deep wound that’s connected to the sea and such a huge pain, for her, it eventually becomes something that can no longer be explored but just looked at from a distance.”
Other Locations in Italy
Certain elements of Naples are recreated by Paolo Sorrentino in Genoa. The narrow streets and alleys of the town were seen as the perfect place to capture the spirit of Naples by Paolo Sorrentino. The charm of Genoa is beautifully utilized to make this a Pan-Italian experience. The Amalfi Coast, known for its picturesque beauty and charming towns, contains a vibrant and dynamic backdrop for the story, which explores themes of beauty and youth.
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