Naples TV Series Filming Locations

Naples has become one of television's most memorable settings. Its grand theatres, crowded streets, seaside villas and lesser-known neighbourhoods have appeared in Italian dramas and internationally acclaimed series alike.

From My Brilliant Friend and Gomorrah to The Lying Life of Adults and The Sea Beyond, you can discover real places behind the stories — and explore parts of Naples you might otherwise miss.

This guide brings together eight series, their filming locations, practical access tips and a suggested route you can follow during your stay.

At a glance: Naples on screen

• Best-known international titles: My Brilliant Friend, Gomorrah, The Lying Life of Adults and The Sea Beyond.
• Where to go: the historic centre, Rione Sanità, Pizzofalcone, Posillipo and Scampia.
• Suggested time: one day for central Naples and Pizzofalcone; another half-day or day for Posillipo.
• Getting around: walk between central locations; use public transport for outlying neighbourhoods.
• Important: some filming sites are private homes or military premises and cannot be visited inside.

1. My Brilliant Friend: from Rione Luzzatti to the historic centre

Based on Elena Ferrante's novels, My Brilliant Friend follows the lives of Elena (Lenù) and Lila, beginning in a working-class Naples neighbourhood in the 1950s. It is among the series that have brought the city's history and contrasts to a worldwide audience.

The story begins in Rione Luzzatti, near Gianturco and Poggioreale. The real neighbourhood exists, but much of the period setting was reconstructed on a large purpose-built set near Caserta rather than filmed in today's streets.

Other recognisable Naples locations include Corso Umberto I, Port'Alba and its bookshops, Piazza dei Martiri, Galleria Umberto I, Piazza del Plebiscito and the seafront.

Practical tips: explore Port'Alba and Piazza Dante on foot as part of a historic-centre walk. For Rione Luzzatti, take Metro Line 2 towards Gianturco and allow extra time. The reconstructed set near Caserta is not a regular visitor attraction.

2. Gomorrah: Scampia and Naples beyond the postcards

Gomorrah, inspired by Roberto Saviano's work, is one of the most internationally recognised series associated with Naples. Its hard-edged depiction of organised crime brought locations in Scampia, Secondigliano, Ponticelli and surrounding areas to television screens worldwide.

The Vele di Scampia became one of its best-known visual symbols. However, major regeneration and demolition projects have changed the area, and many of the buildings seen on screen are no longer standing.

Scampia is a living neighbourhood with community groups, cultural projects and a history far richer than its fictional portrayals. If you wish to visit, we recommend a local guided tour that explains the area's social and urban transformation.

Practical tips: reach the area using Metro Line 1 towards Piscinola–Scampia. Allow around two to three hours for a guided visit. Construction sites and restricted areas are not open to visitors.

3. The Lying Life of Adults: from Vomero to the sea

Another Elena Ferrante adaptation, Netflix's The Lying Life of Adults follows Giovanna as she discovers contrasting sides of 1990s Naples: the middle-class hills and the more working-class eastern districts.

Filming locations include Via San Giacomo dei Capri in the Vomero–Arenella area, streets around Gianturco and Via Traccia a Poggioreale. The series also features the rocks of Marechiaro, the Rampe di Sant'Antonio a Posillipo and Piazza del Plebiscito.

Practical tips: the sites are spread across the city, so don't try to cover them all in one walk. For a scenic outing, focus on Marechiaro and Posillipo; allow at least half a day including transfers.

4. The Sea Beyond (Mare Fuori): where is the prison?

The Sea Beyond, known in Italy as Mare Fuori, tells the stories of young people in a juvenile detention centre. Although the fictional prison is associated with Nisida, its main filming location is actually the Italian Navy facility at Molo San Vincenzo, near the Molosiglio and Naples harbour.

The production used buildings and outdoor spaces within the military compound, with the port and Castel Nuovo often visible in the background. The site is not normally open to the public; any special access requires authorisation.

Other scenes were filmed at Toledo Metro station, in the historic centre, Posillipo, Bagnoli and at Piscina Mirabilis in Bacoli.

Practical tips: take Metro Line 1 to Municipio and walk around Piazza Municipio, Castel Nuovo, the Molosiglio gardens and Santa Lucia. Allow around 45–60 minutes for the public areas; do not attempt to enter the naval base.

5. Mina Settembre: the palaces of Rione Sanità

Starring Serena Rossi and based on stories by Neapolitan writer Maurizio de Giovanni, Mina Settembre follows a social worker whose job takes her into the everyday life of Naples.

The heart of the story is Rione Sanità. Palazzo Sanfelice, on Via Sanità, is used as the setting for Mina's social-services office. Nearby, Palazzo dello Spagnuolo, at Via Vergini 19, is famous for its striking double staircase.

The series also features Via Partenope, Borgo Marinari, Galleria Borbonica and other Naples locations. Combine the two palaces with the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità and, if open, the Catacombs of San Gaudioso.

Practical tips: Metro Line 1 to Museo or Line 2 to Cavour, followed by a walk. Allow 90 minutes to two hours, excluding catacomb visits. Both palaces are residential buildings; access to their courtyards is not guaranteed.

6. Un posto al sole: the real Palazzo Palladini in Posillipo

Broadcast since 1996, Un posto al sole is a long-running Italian soap opera set in Naples. Its best-known fictional address is Palazzo Palladini, a seafront residence where many characters live.

The building seen in the exterior shots is Villa Volpicelli on Via Ferdinando Russo, overlooking Riva Fiorita in Posillipo — not Palazzo Donn'Anna, with which it is sometimes confused. Earlier exterior scenes used Villa Rocca Matilde, while the apartment interiors are studio sets.

Villa Volpicelli is private, but its seafront position can be admired from outside, particularly from the water. Nearby Palazzo Donn'Anna, a dramatic unfinished seventeenth-century building, is worth seeing in its own right.

Practical tips: travel towards Posillipo from Mergellina and check current bus services. Allow two to three hours for scenic stops around Riva Fiorita and Marechiaro. Respect private-property boundaries.

7. The Bastards of Pizzofalcone: a police station and panoramic views

Based on Maurizio de Giovanni's novels and starring Alessandro Gassmann, The Bastards of Pizzofalcone turns a historic hill above Santa Lucia into the setting for a police drama.

The fictional police station is located at Palazzo Carafa di Santa Severina, on Via Egiziaca a Pizzofalcone, a sixteenth-century building used by the State Archives' military section.

Nearby, the Monte Echia viewpoint offers spectacular views over the Bay of Naples, Castel dell'Ovo and Vesuvius. The hill can also be reached via the lift connecting it with the Santa Lucia area; check its operation and current fares before visiting.

Practical tips: walk up from Piazza del Plebiscito or use the Monte Echia lift. Allow about 90 minutes. Combine the visit with Via Monte di Dio, Palazzo Serra di Cassano and Borgo Santa Lucia.

8. Inspector Ricciardi: the Naples of the 1930s

Starring Lino Guanciale and also based on novels by Maurizio de Giovanni, Inspector Ricciardi recreates the atmosphere of Naples in the 1930s through its monumental architecture and historic interiors.

Among its recognisable locations are Teatro San Carlo, Piazza del Plebiscito, Galleria Principe di Napoli, Gran Caffè Gambrinus and the Royal Palace of Naples. Scenes have also been filmed at Palazzo Serra di Cassano and the Filangieri Museum.

Practical tips: Metro Line 1 to Municipio or Toledo. Allow around two hours for the monumental area; museums and theatres have their own admission arrangements.

Suggested itinerary: Naples TV locations in one or two days

Day 1: from Rione Sanità to Pizzofalcone

Approximate duration: 5–6 hours, including stops. Begin with the Mina Settembre locations at Palazzo Sanfelice and Palazzo dello Spagnuolo. Continue towards Piazza Dante and Port'Alba, associated with My Brilliant Friend.

Head towards Via Toledo and the monumental area around Piazza del Plebiscito and Teatro San Carlo, familiar from Inspector Ricciardi. From there, walk up to Pizzofalcone for the fictional police station and the Monte Echia panorama, then finish near the Molosiglio and Molo San Vincenzo, the setting for The Sea Beyond.

Day 2: television locations by the sea

Approximate duration: 3–4 hours, including transfers. Explore Posillipo, starting around Palazzo Donn'Anna and continuing to Riva Fiorita and Villa Volpicelli, the real exterior of Palazzo Palladini in Un posto al sole.

If you have more time, continue to Marechiaro and the Posillipo viewpoints associated with The Lying Life of Adults. Scampia and Rione Luzzatti are better planned as separate visits rather than squeezed into this coastal route.

For a broader introduction to the city, combine these locations with our Naples in two days itinerary or our three-day Naples guide.

FAQ: Naples filming locations

Where was My Brilliant Friend filmed?

The story is centred on Rione Luzzatti in eastern Naples, but many 1950s neighbourhood scenes were shot on a reconstructed set near Caserta. Other locations include Port'Alba, Corso Umberto I and Piazza dei Martiri.

Can you visit the prison from The Sea Beyond?

Not under normal circumstances. The main prison set was built within an Italian Navy facility near Molo San Vincenzo, which is a restricted military area.

Where is Palazzo Palladini from Un posto al sole?

The exterior is Villa Volpicelli on Via Ferdinando Russo in Posillipo. It is private property, and the interior scenes are filmed in studios.

Where is the police station from The Bastards of Pizzofalcone?

It is Palazzo Carafa di Santa Severina on Via Egiziaca a Pizzofalcone, near the Monte Echia viewpoint.

Does the neighbourhood from My Brilliant Friend really exist?

Yes. Rione Luzzatti is a real district near Gianturco, although the series recreated much of its historical appearance on a purpose-built set.

Are the TV filming locations free to visit?

Many outdoor locations, including Port'Alba, Piazza del Plebiscito and the Monte Echia viewpoint, are public spaces. Private residences, film sets and military facilities may be inaccessible.

Hotel Il Convento's local tip

Our advice is to explore more than just the places you recognise from television. Take time to discover the neighbourhoods, architecture and everyday life around each location.

Hotel Il Convento is in the Spanish Quarter, a short walk from Via Toledo, Piazza del Plebiscito and the monumental centre. It is a convenient base for exploring many of the locations in this guide, while Rione Sanità is also accessible by public transport.

Before setting out, consult our Naples metro guide to plan journeys between neighbourhoods.