You Can Stay at the Grand Villa in Netflix's 'Ripley'
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In Ripley, Italy isn’t the colorful, postcard-perfect vision most people are used to seeing. Set during winter in the 1960s—and based on author Patricia Highsmith’s bestselling Tom Ripley novels—the Netflix series is a foreboding tale imagined in black and white. It follows New York-based grifter (Andrew Scott) who is hired to convince a wealthy industrialist’s son, Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn), to leave Italy and return home to the States. While the story is injected with an underlying sense of danger, it’s full of beauty thanks to the many quaint towns and picturesque cities where it unfolds.
Filming took place at more than 200 locations and sets across Italy (with a few scenes shot in New York City), and eager travelers can visit many of them. Whether you want to live a waking dream in Atrani, settle into a Capri villa, or admire a Venetian palazzo, you can devise a delightful Italian getaway based on Ripley alone. Dive into the details below from the show’s production designer David Gropman.
Where Was Netflix’s Ripley Filmed?
Filming for Ripley took place in Atrani, Capri, Anzio, Rome, Palermo, Naples, and Venice. Generally, each city portrays itself on screen. But a few places—including Dickie’s grand villa in Atrani—exist in different cities. Many interiors were shot on location, while others were built on soundstages at the Rome-based studio Cinecittà.
Atrani
When scouting a town for Dickie to settle in, Gropman—along with writer-director Steven Zaillian and the locations team—had a few requirements. Gropman tells House Beautiful: “One was a beach that felt period correct, that didn't have too much on either side of it that would've made it problematic. Two was a good piazza that was able to take Tom from point A to point B to point C, and three, stairs and passages and alleyways to traverse to get up to Dickie's house.”
They landed on Atrani, a small town with a population of about 800. Roughly an hour from Positano, where the novel is set, the town’s main square, beach, and maze of corridors made ideal backdrops. The tiny village is vibrant and charming in real life, making it an excellent place for a relaxing visit.
While Dickie’s villa isn’t located in Atrani, Marge’s home is portrayed as a residence in the town. “We had to do a bit with the exterior of the house to get it period, but not a lot,” Gropman says. “And I just loved it—this perfect little square sitting at the top of Atrani.”
Capri
Dickie’s villa is portrayed by Villa Torricella on the island of Capri—and yes, it's bookable on Airbnb. Both the interiors and exteriors were tapped to depict the aspiring painter’s Italian retreat. Overlooking the sea, the property is separated into three residences that boast vaulted ceilings, interior columns, and an array of patterned tiles. On the property, a loggia and wisteria-wrapped pergola cover multiple dining setups for enjoying meals al fresco. A white-columned gazebo adds to the villa’s grandeur.
Villa Torricella is located right in front of the Hotel Excelsior Parco, which can also be spotted in the series. Gropman stayed at the hotel during filming and notes it's an easy walk to get from one to the other. Built in 1906 on the ruins of an ancient Roman villa, the luxury hotel comprises 11 rooms that are outfitted with Art Nouveau-style furnishings and decor.
Anzio
Dickie and Tom venture to Sanremo, where they go to the beach and rent a boat. Those scenes were shot in Anzio, a seaside town located roughly an hour outside Rome. The fishing port is famous for its role in World War II history, Roman ruins, and seafood.
Rome
In Rome, filming took place at Cinecittà Studios. Tom’s apartment interiors were built on soundstages there. Some of the furnishings were custom-made and inspired by real pieces the production team spotted while in the city, including a sofa they saw in a villa and a leather chair they spotted in a shoe store. The Italian capital’s streets and landmarks also make onscreen appearances, from the Spanish Steps to the Victor Emmanuel II Monument.
Palermo
Tom's obsession with the work of Caravaggio—an Italian painter and notorious criminal who became famous for his unsettling, realistic work—is heightened in Palermo when he visits the Oratory of San Lorenzo. Filming took place in the small chapel, where Caravaggio's "Nativity" altarpiece once hung before it was stolen in the '60s. A high-quality copy is currently in its place.
Select landmarks and historic spots further establish the Sicilian setting. Among them are the Cathedral of Palermo; Quattro Canti (also known as Piazza Vigliena), a Baroque square in the city's historic quarters; and Santuario di Santa Rosalia, a church and cave shrine.
Naples
The exterior of Tom's hotel in Palermo is actually a historical site called Palazzo Sanfelice in Naples. Built by architect and painter Ferdinando Sanfelice, the Baroque palace is famous for its elaborate staircases, arches, and decorative ceilings. Dickie and Tom also view work by Caravaggio during a scene that was filmed at the Pio Monte della Misericordia in Naples.
Venice
Tom's incredible palazzo in Venice is a real residence in the City of Canals. “I was lucky enough, in my youth, to have designed Lasse Hallström’s Casanova, so I pretty much know every palazzo in Venice,” Gropman explains. “And when this came up, I was sure from the moment which palazzo I thought Tom should be in.”
Known as Palazzo Contarini Polignac, the early renaissance building is just as grand in real life as it is on screen. It features soaring ceilings, impressive chandeliers, pastel stucco walls, damask wallcoverings, and grand pianos. “We brought in probably all of the furniture that we used, but the wallcoverings were all original to the palazzo and the beautiful window and door details, all of that,” Gropman says.
On the ground floor of the palazzo, there's a contemporary art gallery. In the past, the palazzo has been available to book for a stay. Currently, it doesn't seem like it's available, but perhaps it will be again in the future.
Along with the palazzo, Tom spends brief moments in the Piazza San Marco. The famous public square encompasses some of the city's top attractions including St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Museo Correr, the Campanile (the Basilica’s bell tower), and the Torre dell’ Orologio.
You love filming locations. So do we. Let’s obsess over them together.
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