Under The Tuscan Sun is a 2003 movie directed by Audrey Wells and starring Diane Lane. It is an adaptation of a book by the same name, a memoir penned by Frances Mayes that tells the story of a divorcee who, out of a capricious impulse, decided to get a villa in Italy, wishing that moving so far away from those places would lead her to a new life.
The film received many nominations back in its time, including one Golden Globe nomination for Diane Lane for best actress in a leading role.
Produced by the same man who made Matt Damon’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley” —also shot in the same place—and after reading the book, Tom Sternberg decided to take on the project. Today, we are going to travel to Italy to check out some of the filming locations that this romantic dramedy showcases.
Under The Tuscan Sun Filming Locations
Under The Tuscan Sun was filmed on location in Tuscany, Italy, in different locations, as well as other parts of that country.
The bulk of the movie takes place there, where our lead protagonist, fed up with her failed marriage, decides to hit the reset button and meet some interesting people along the way.
Also, before she moved to Tuscany, our lead protagonist also had a life in San Francisco, California. But that’s only a few scenes.
San Francisco, California
Diane Lane’s character Frances Mayes has a troubled marriage and is fed up with the life she has in San Francisco; she decides to leave everything there, sell everything in the United States and move to Italy. Some exterior shots were filmed in San Francisco.
Located in the northern part of the United States, San Francisco is a historic city famous for its people, its politics, sightseeing, and culture. It’s a shame that the social issues that plague such a beautiful city lately are refraining tourists from visiting. Still, San Francisco is a beautiful place to visit, and it is a favorite filming location for many movies.
Tuscany, Italy
In case you didn’t notice, the movie’s title is “Under The Tuscan Sun,” and that’s where most of the action takes place. Located in the north and center of Italy, it is a beautiful and artistic place, a vibrant region that was the birthplace of the Rennaissance; it’s where the Italian language was born and where writes like Petrarch and Dante Alighieri lived and wrote their works.
In the movie, Diane Lane is seen all over Tuscany, from the place she buys, the markets, the people she meets, and where that memorable scene with the judicial scrivener takes place when Diane Lane’s character buys the place and the cultural shock that ensues.
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Rome, Italy
When Diane Lane’s character lands in Italy, she kicks things off in the City of Seven Hills, the Eternal City, the seat of the Roman Empire, and the capital of Italy. The movie might make you think at the beginning that Patti and Grace’s apartment is in San Francisco, but it was actually an apartment stage that the production crew chose in Cinecitta Studios to film those scenes.
Montepulciano, Italy
Montepulciano is one of the most beautiful Tuscan medieval cities in that region. Founded by the Etruscan King Lars Porsena of Clusium, the city dates back to the third century. It has cobblestone streets and beautiful buildings, and it was where the Lombards took refuge after the Roman Empire fell.
In the movie, we see places like the Palazzo Comunale, the Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral, and other locations like the Palazzo Tarugi are there.
Under The Tuscan Sun is a great romantic dramedy from the past century that takes us to a region full of history, culture, and sightseeing worthy of seeing and visiting if you’re ever there.
The Tuscan region is a beautiful filming location, and it will continue to be a favorite place for filmmakers for many years to come because of its wide array of locations, the ease with which producers can come to terms with the local authorities, and the fun that the actors and crew have when they share all things Italian.
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