All Parthenope's film locations: 8 places to discover in Naples with Paolo Sorrentino’s eyes

"Parthenope," says Paolo Sorrentino about his latest film, released in Italy on October 24, “reveals two mysteries: the woman and Naples.” Beautiful and alluring, deep and clever, nostalgic, joyful, free-spirited: these qualities define Parthenope, the protagonist, just as they define Naples, the city whose name she bears and where her story unfolds. Parthenope, in fact, is the ancient name of Naples, rooted in the legend of the siren who founded its first Greek settlement.

Naples is not merely a backdrop to the story; it shapes it, with each stage of Parthenope’s life corresponding to a landmark in the city. In this article, we’ve gathered the main locations of Parthenope to experience and explore Naples through Paolo Sorrentino’s eyes. Let’s begin.

The film opens with a birth scene taking place in the waters off a private beach near an ancient villa. This is Villa Lauro (also known as Villa Rocca Matilde), once the residence of shipowner Achille Lauro. Here, amid the waves of Posillipo and under the gaze of Mount Vesuvius, the protagonist is born, symbolically establishing her bond with the sea. But Villa Lauro isn’t the only coastal location chosen for the film. Villa Grotta Marina, near the Bay of the Two Friars, serves as the stunning home of Parthenope’s upper-class family.

These villas are private, so they cannot be visited or accessed from the shore, but they can be admired from the sea. How? Through a tour of the gulf, perhaps by boat. The most comprehensive and convenient tour is offered by InStazione. Starting from Castel dell’Ovo, you can sail aboard Argo, a 7.5-meter vintage launch, exploring the coast from Santa Lucia to Posillipo and admiring the settings of Parthenope and much more. The tour even includes a snorkeling stop in the waters of Villa Lauro, providing a closer look at Sorrentino’s Naples.

It’s the 1950s, the war is over, and Naples is bursting with beauty: elegant and handsome men and women stroll along Galleria Umberto and Via San Carlo. Glances are fleeting, but the air is rich with erotic tension. Parthenope’s life has only just begun, and Naples too is ready for a fresh start. Sorrentino places this extended, purely visual sequence in the city’s most representative locations, symbols of cultural ferment, art, and rebirth. The Galleria, built in the late 19th century, is an architectural masterpiece, a majestic and lively space where history, commerce, and culture intersect. Via San Carlo, which runs alongside the famous San Carlo Theater, a symbol of opera and Naples’ great musical tradition, embodies the city’s timeless elegance. Together, they reflect the multifaceted identity of Naples, where past and present coexist in harmony.

In Parthenope’s life story, the memory of a summer in Capri holds a special place. In this enchanting corner, where the island’s timeless beauty merges with youthful carefreeness, a pivotal episode in her life unfolds. The famous Faraglioni rise dramatically from the water, and in the film, they are admired from the Gardens of Augustus, creating a spectacular visual effect. From this garden, one of Capri’s most enchanting spots, you can view the Faraglioni and the winding Via Krupp, capturing the island’s natural splendor. The film also features scenes on the beach at Punta Carena Lighthouse in Anacapri, which emphasizes the island’s wild strength and primal essence.

Parthenope is a young woman, brilliant and passionate about humanity. She loves observing every nuance of reality, and every character she encounters fascinates her without judgment. Naturally, she pursues studies in anthropology, eventually becoming a renowned professor. The University of Naples Federico II, the city’s premier institution of learning, serves as the backdrop for Parthenope’s academic journey. Founded in 1224, the university is not only an educational hub but also a symbol of Naples’ intellectual heritage. The scenes focus on the historic building on Corso Umberto I, home to the main campus. Key moments are shot in the beautiful Oval Hall, with its antique wooden seats, and on the monumental internal staircase known as the Scalone della Minerva.

The Lungomare Caracciolo, with the sea and rocks on one side and the orderly rows of trees in the Villa Comunale on the other, is the Neapolitans’ promenade. This place is the setting for a pivotal scene marking a tragic event in Parthenope’s life. On the eerily deserted promenade, a mournful funeral procession marches under the bright Neapolitan sun, interrupted by an unusual vehicle: a large truck spraying disinfectant. This scene alludes to the cholera epidemic that afflicted Naples in the 1970s. For this sequence, Sorrentino used an original vintage truck.

Parthenope’s confrontation with the darker side of Naples unfolds along one of the oldest and most characteristic streets in the historic center: Spaccanapoli, the ancient decumanus that seems to split the city in two. Here, Parthenope encounters an enigmatic character from the criminal underworld who guides her through the city’s underbelly, acting as her cicerone through its low-life corners. Until then, she had only known the bright beauty of Posillipo, but now she faces a new side of Naples, marked by poverty and darkness. Her gaze remains unjudjmental, capturing the intensity and humanity within decay. At night, Spaccanapoli reveals itself to Parthenope with its bassi, the small, intimate scenes that evoke both grotesque and moving stories, like the grottoes of a nativity scene.

In the symbolic narrative of Parthenope’s life, a meeting with another fundamental emblem of Naples is inevitable: San Gennaro. Now on her way to an academic career as an anthropologist, Parthenope goes to the Cathedral of Naples on San Gennaro’s feast day (September 19) to witness the blood miracle and interview the colorful Bishop. This intriguing Bishop, an unusual character for a cleric, embodies the contradictions of a city where the sacred and the profane mix seamlessly. Thanks to the Bishop, Parthenope's guide of excellence, he will be able to take a close look at the beauty of the Cathedral of Naples and touch wit her hands the stupendous jewels ( and the mythological diamond-studded tiara) belonging to the Treasure of San Gennaro. 

The final scene of the film is set in the present day: the protagonist, now an elderly woman, finds herself on Via Partenope, at Hotel Santa Lucia. In the quiet, deserted street, an unexpected scene unfolds: a blue ship carried along by a small, festive procession. The ship is a nod to the celebrations of May 4, 2023, when the city erupted in joy following the decisive championship match. As a passionate fan and devoted supporter, the director couldn’t resist including a tribute to that epic night of festivities in his latest film.