Fabrizio del Dongo spends his childhood in Milan and the fictitious Grianta Castle, his father’s home on Lake Como, which was reconstructed in Rivalta Castle (PC), the name of which comes from Ripa Alta, on the shores of the Trebbia. Here, in 218 BC, a battle allegedly took place between Hannibal and the Roman legions.
He’s just a kid when he takes to Napoleon’s ideals of freedom. And so, when the latter leaves Elba to take back power, Fabrizio follows him to Waterloo (the battle was reconstructed in the countryside of Bologna), where he witnesses his defeat.
Still in Bologna, years later, he is arrested (after killing a rival in love in a duel) and imprisoned in Farnese Tower: for the TV series, Farnese Tower was reconstructed in Torrechiara Castle (PR). The duel takes place in the gardens of Villa Isolani (BO).
After completing his ecclesiastical studies in Naples, Fabrizio, who is now a Monsignor, goes to Parma, the home of his aunt Gina Pietranera, his protector who is secretly in love with him. This city hosts the lions’ share of the film’s action.
Gina Pietranera is in turn protected by Count Mosca della Rovere Sorezana, the Minister of War in the Principality of Parma who falls hopelessly in love with her during an evening at the theatre and convinces her to move to Parma. The scene in question takes place at the Scala Theatre in Milan, but was filmed at the Valli Theatre in Reggio Emilia.
Fabrizio is however in love with Clelia, but even though she returns his love, she is forced to marry another, in a move to save him. The wedding takes place at the Duomo of Parma, a Romanesque cathedral dating back to 1059.
The spark between Fabrizio and Clelia is lit at Palazzo San Severina during a lavish dance: the location chosen to film the fatal encounter was Palazzo Albergati in Zola Predosa (BO).
The Marquis Crescenti, Clelia’s husband, lives in the Meli Lupi Fortress in Soragna (PR), the halls and garden of which were made available for filming. From the pulpit of the adjacent church, Fabrizio gives sermons on love. From the windows of the palace, Clelia is consumed by love.
In the closing scenes of the film, Fabrizio, destroyed by the deaths of the people he loves, takes refuge in the Certosa di Parma. The monastery was reconstructed in the Benedictine convent of St. John. Piazza San Giovanni instead provides the backdrop for other scenes in the film, like the street theatre scenes. The Certosa, on the other hand, which is located to the north of the city, is the Certosa di Paradigna or the Cistercian Abbey of Valserena, which dates back to 1298. Today it is home to the Study Centre and Communication Archive of the University of Parma.
Other scenes take place at the Sanvitale Fortress of Fontanellato (PR), where some of the nobility settings were reconstructed, the Ducal Palace of Colorno (PR), which sits opposite the archaeological remains of Sanguigna, and the church of Colorno.
Fabrizio del Dongo spends his childhood in Milan and the fictitious Grianta Castle, his father’s home on Lake Como, which was reconstructed in Rivalta Castle (PC), the name of which comes from Ripa Alta, on the shores of the Trebbia. Here, in 218 BC, a battle allegedly took place between Hannibal and the Roman legions.
He’s just a kid when he takes to Napoleon’s ideals of freedom. And so, when the latter leaves Elba to take back power, Fabrizio follows him to Waterloo (the battle was reconstructed in the countryside of Bologna), where he witnesses his defeat.
Still in Bologna, years later, he is arrested (after killing a rival in love in a duel) and imprisoned in Farnese Tower: for the TV series, Farnese Tower was reconstructed in Torrechiara Castle (PR). The duel takes place in the gardens of Villa Isolani (BO).
After completing his ecclesiastical studies in Naples, Fabrizio, who is now a Monsignor, goes to Parma, the home of his aunt Gina Pietranera, his protector who is secretly in love with him. This city hosts the lions’ share of the film’s action.
Gina Pietranera is in turn protected by Count Mosca della Rovere Sorezana, the Minister of War in the Principality of Parma who falls hopelessly in love with her during an evening at the theatre and convinces her to move to Parma. The scene in question takes place at the Scala Theatre in Milan, but was filmed at the Valli Theatre in Reggio Emilia.
Fabrizio is however in love with Clelia, but even though she returns his love, she is forced to marry another, in a move to save him. The wedding takes place at the Duomo of Parma, a Romanesque cathedral dating back to 1059.
The spark between Fabrizio and Clelia is lit at Palazzo San Severina during a lavish dance: the location chosen to film the fatal encounter was Palazzo Albergati in Zola Predosa (BO).
The Marquis Crescenti, Clelia’s husband, lives in the Meli Lupi Fortress in Soragna (PR), the halls and garden of which were made available for filming. From the pulpit of the adjacent church, Fabrizio gives sermons on love. From the windows of the palace, Clelia is consumed by love.
In the closing scenes of the film, Fabrizio, destroyed by the deaths of the people he loves, takes refuge in the Certosa di Parma. The monastery was reconstructed in the Benedictine convent of St. John. Piazza San Giovanni instead provides the backdrop for other scenes in the film, like the street theatre scenes. The Certosa, on the other hand, which is located to the north of the city, is the Certosa di Paradigna or the Cistercian Abbey of Valserena, which dates back to 1298. Today it is home to the Study Centre and Communication Archive of the University of Parma.
Other scenes take place at the Sanvitale Fortress of Fontanellato (PR), where some of the nobility settings were reconstructed, the Ducal Palace of Colorno (PR), which sits opposite the archaeological remains of Sanguigna, and the church of Colorno.
In 1815 young Fabrizio Del Dongo runs away from home to join the troops of Napoleon and witnesses the defeat at Waterloo. After being reported to the police by his father, who is afraid of being accused of treason by the Austrians, and protected by his lovestruck aunt Gina, he takes refuge in the seminary in Naples and to Parma where his aunt lives. In the meantime, he meets Clelia, the daughter of General Conti, who runs the fortress of Parma, and falls in love with her.
