5 Lesser-Known Film Locations Movie Buffs Should Seek Out In Venice

16.09.2023 - 10:07 / forbes.com

This week sees the release of The Haunting in Venice, a Poirot thriller set in the titular canal city. Dozens of films have been shot in the tourist hotspot, many in some of the most frequented locations in the city including St Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge.

But for set-jetting visitors—travelers who visit real-life film locations—there are a few hidden spots that feature in movies that you might not know of. Five-star hotel JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa has created a guide to the lesser-trod areas of the city that have graced the silver screen.

Just a few minutes from St Mark’s Square, the Fondaco dei Tedeschi features in the hit historical drama The Merchant of Venice. The historic building is situated near Rialto Bridge along Venice’s Grand Canal.

Originally a trading post for German merchants in the 13th century, it now houses a luxury department store with a panoramic roof terrace. Its monumental arcaded interior and history of riches have made it a captivating choice for film productions.

Featured in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale, the Palazzo Pisani Moretta is an elegant salmon-pink 15th-century palace that exudes opulence, appropriately embodying the setting of a high-stakes casino.

As well as the exterior, the film showcased various areas within the palazzo, including the grand entrance hall, the pastel-hued frescoes in the gambling rooms, and the sweeping staircase.

In the iconic action-adventure film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Campo San Barnaba square served as the backdrop for Harrison Ford’s character to embark on his search for the Holy Grail.

In the film, Campo San Barnaba is transformed into a cacophonous marketplace. Today, it still has cafès whose tables and chairs spill out onto the pavement and the canal running alongside has a permanent floating fruit and vegetable stall.

This centuries-old church, located in the Dorsoduro district of Venice, featured prominently in the 1970s psychological thriller Don’t Look Now.

Throughout the film, the Church of San Nicolò dei Mendicoli is used as a key setting for various pivotal scenes, with its Gothic architecture and candle-lit chapels giving a haunting sense of foreboding to the movie.

Also located in the Dorsoduro district, the Sant' Agnese Church was used as a location in the 2010 romantic thriller The Tourist. Whilst the film featured many famous Venetian landmarks, it also included a number of lesser-known spots.

The interior of Sant' Agnese Church was transformed into a lavish setting for a masquerade ball scene. The church's elegantly simple architecture, adorned with religious iconography, served as a striking backdrop.