Italy for me From Italy with love
Throughout February 2015, Romans had the rare thrill of watching Daniel Craig and the film crew of the new James Bond movie shoot on the streets of the Eternal City. By October of that year, the global premiere of SPECTRE took place. The Rome sequence spans over 20 minutes of screen time, making it a must-see for anyone in love with both Bond and the city of Rome.
Bond enters Rome behind the wheel of his sleek Aston Martin DB10 via Via di San Pancrazio, passing the Hotel del Gianicolo on the right and Villa Doria Pamphili on the left.
This area marks the boundary of the ancient Aurelian Walls. If you take a left, you’ll reach the panoramic viewpoint at Piazza Garibaldi, but the camera instead sweeps toward Largo di Porta San Pancrazio and the majestic Fontana dell’Acqua Paola, visible in the lower-right corner of the frame.
Incidentally, this very spot is where the breathtaking opening scene of the Oscar-winning film The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza) by Paolo Sorrentino leaves viewers speechless. The panorama includes the unmistakable silhouette of the Altar of the Fatherland on Piazza Venezia.
Bond eventually makes his way down into the charming Trastevere neighborhood, likely skimming past Porta Portese and heading toward the Circus Maximus—though this part remains off-screen.
In the very next frame, Bond’s Aston Martin is seen speeding from the direction of the Circus Maximus, looping past the Arch of Constantine and the iconic Colosseum.
Shortly after, Bond is seen in the EUR district at the Museum of Contemporary Art, which was reimagined through cinematic magic to serve as a cemetery scene.
After spending the night with Monica Bellucci (whom he had just saved—after killing her husband at his funeral), James stays at Villa Alberico, now a sought-after venue for luxury events and weddings in Italy. From there, he cruises along Lungotevere, the embankment road that runs along the Tiber River.
This particular view puzzled even locals—so much so that we had to consult Google Earth. To the left of St. Peter’s Basilica is Janiculum Hill, which doesn’t feature any such palace-like buildings. There’s a hospital and the luxurious Gran Meliá Rome hotel—but the SPECTRE meeting location was digitally inserted.
In reality, the SPECTRE headquarters was filmed at Blenheim Palace in England—the ancestral estate of the Dukes of Marlborough. This grand baroque residence lies near Woodstock in Oxfordshire and is among the finest palace-and-park complexes in the UK. Curious? Visit the official website: www.blenheimpalace.com.
Next, Bond escapes a high-speed chase, and once again we catch a glimpse of my favorite Fontana dell’Acqua Paola. In this frame, he’s heading in the opposite direction from the Vatican, as confirmed by the dome visible in the background—though from this point it’s usually blocked by trees. Still, the geography checks out!
Rome is full of narrow one-way streets, but this moment stands out: a slow-moving Fiat 500 blocks Bond’s path as it pulls in from the right—clearly driving the wrong way on a one-way street. Note the traffic sign! As a local, I can confirm: yes, this is Italy. No one’s surprised.
Just moments later, in a dizzying burst of adrenaline, Bond and his pursuer burst onto Via della Conciliazione, racing toward St. Peter’s Basilica. This iconic street is familiar to nearly every Rome visitor.
Want to experience it just as empty and cinematic? Consider joining an early morning Vatican tour or a night tour of the Eternal City.
After a series of dizzying turns, Bond makes a dramatic descent down the steps to the Tiber River embankment.
In this shot, about 500 meters ahead, you can already spot the Ponte Sisto —it’s the second bridge in the frame. The chase, as you may have guessed, takes place on the Trastevere side of the river.
There’s no slope along this specific stretch—the stunt was filmed in a different part of the embankment. Still, the moment is visually stunning.
And finally, James Bond’s Aston Martin sinks near the pedestrian Ponte Sisto bridge.
Bond, ever the cool agent, parachutes down next to a bus stop on Via Lungotevere, walks past Ponte Sisto (on the left), going against traffic on—naturally—a one-way street. How the car seen parked on the right side of the frame got there remains a mystery. Rome’s traffic isn’t quite that chaotic—though, at times, it certainly can be.
Full video of the chase:
Of course, as with any film, SPECTRE’s Rome sequence with Agent 007 has its inconsistencies—and the more meticulous viewer, especially one familiar with the Eternal City, will surely spot even more. Still, for me personally, the film showcases some of my favorite places (Gianicolo, Trastevere, the Vatican), an incredible chase along the Tiber, and the beloved Ponte Sisto—worth rewatching the Bond saga for those alone.