15 Romantic Italian Films That'll Make You Love Italy Even More

Fall in love Italian-style with these beautifully romantic Italian films. Set in the Bel Paese (literally, ‘beautiful country’), you’ll fall in love with Italy all over again as you’re transported across the rolling hills of Tuscany, down the cobblestoned streets of Rome, and glistening waters of the Amalfi Coast.

Whether it’s date night, a night in with the girls, Valentine’s Day, or you’re excited for an upcoming trip to Italy, this list of romantic Italian films is the perfect companion.

While I was learning Italian, I binge-watched every Italian movie and series I could find. On top of that, I would spend two weeks of the year at the cinema for the Italian Film Festival in Melbourne. I watched one, sometimes two films after work every night. At some point, I was obsessed with each and every one of the films on this list for various reasons.

This list of romantic Italian movies includes a mix of both American and Italian films and features the beautiful landscapes and cities of Italy.

If you’re learning Italian, I highly encourage you to watch these films with Italian subtitles and keep a notepad handy so you can jot down any new vocabulary. For more language learning tips, check out these 10 best ways to learn a language and these tips from 11 Polyglots.

Here are my top 15 romantic Italian films you’ll want to see… again, and again, and again.

1. Only You

Released: 1994
Languages: English (some spoken Italian)

In this charming rom-com, we follow Faith (Marisa Tomei), a high school teacher and hopeless romantic who impulsively flies to Venice in order to track down the man she thinks she’s destined to marry. Along the way, she meets the very charming and handsome Peter Wright (Robert Downey Jr.) who does everything he can to win her over.

I absolutely adore this film. Ok, so it’s kind of corny, but in a good way. You see a bit of Venice, Tuscany, Rome and end up on the stunning Amalfi Coast. Some parts are spoken in Italian but the bulk of the film is in English. My favourite moment is when they first arrive in Venice to the tune of the beautiful ‘O Sole Mio.

Only You is available in streaming, DVD and Blu-ray formats on Amazon.

2. Parlami d’amore (Tell me about love)

Released: 2008
Languages: Italian

Parlami d’amore follows Sasha (Silvio Muccino) a twenty-something year old who’s desperately in love with Benedetta (Carolina Crescentini) who doesn’t seem know he even exists. After colliding with another car, Sasha meets Nicole, a French woman in her forties and living in Rome with her husband in a failing marriage. Sasha and Nicole start a friendship which becomes more sentimental as Nicole teaches Sasha how to seduce and win over Benedetta.

Set in Rome, I became mildly obsessed with this film ahead of moving to the Eternal City. Unlike Hollywood films that focus on showing you the famous monuments, the Roman director shows you Rome through the eyes of a local. From side streets, to popular local hangouts. The fact that Silvio Muccino is in it helps too 😛

Parlami d’amore is available on DVD

3. Roman Holiday

Released: 1953
Languages: English

Who can forget this famous classic from Hollywood’s Golden Era? This 1950s film was nominated for ten Academy Awards and Audrey Hepburn won Best Actress for her role as a Princess Ann, a modern-day princess who sneaks out from her country’s embassy to go off and explore Rome on her own. Along the way, she meets Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck), an expat reporter who shows her the sights of Rome on the back of a Vespa.

Roman Holiday is available in streaming, DVD and Blu-ray formats on Amazon.

4. Room with a View

Released: 1985
Languages: English

This British film is based on a 1908 novel by English writer E. M. Forster, Room with a View. Set at the beginning of the 20th century with Italy and England as the backdrop, we meet Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham-Carter), a young English girl who visits Florence with her older cousin and chaperon (Maggie Smith), where she meets an eccentric young man named George Emerson. Upon returning to English, Lucy struggles with her feelings for George and whether or not she should still marry her fiancé, Cecil. There’s a lot of comedic relief in this film which pokes fun at the cultural restraints of English society during the Edwardian Era. If you enjoy Jane Austen, you’ll love this film.

Room with a View is available in streaming, DVD and Blu-ray formats on Amazon.

5. Manuale d’amore (Manual of Love)

Released: 2005
Languages: Italian

This Italian blockbuster follows the lives of four different couples and the different stages of love. From the highs, the lows, to love young and old. Think ‘Love Actually’ but Italian-style. This romantic comedy film was so popular, two sequels were made, Manuale d’amore 2 – Capitoli successivi (2007), and Manuale d’amore 3 (2011).

Manuale d’amore is available on DVD on Amazon.

6. Under the Tuscan Sun

Released: 2003
Languages: English (some spoken Italian)

Under the Tuscan Sun reminds me of my mum, only because it was one of her favourites films I would make her watch when I was lusting over moving to Italy.

Set in Tuscany, Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) takes an impromptu trip to Tuscany after divorcing her husband who cheated on her. In the hope of turning around her fate, Frances impulsively buys a derelict villa in rural Tuscany and sets about renovating her new home and rebuilding her life. During a visit to Rome, she meets Marcello (Raoul Bova) who rekindles her love life. Sound like a cliche? Under the Tuscan Sun is actually based on the bestselling autobiography by Frances Mayes.

Under the Tuscan Sun is available in streaming, DVD and Blu-ray formats on Amazon.

7. Il Postino (The Postman)

Released: 1994
Languages: Italian

Located on the stunning island of Procida in the Gulf of Naples, the young and unemployed Mario (Massimo Troisi) is hired to be the personal postman to the famous Chilean writer Pablo Neruda who moved to the island and receives so much fan mail he needs his own postman. Soon, a friendship forms between the two men. Pablo teaches the shy and clumsy Mario the power and beauty of poetry which he uses to win over Beatrice, a waitress who works in the village cafe.

Il Postino is available on DVD on Amazon.

8. Ieri, oggi e domani (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow)

Released: 1963
Languages: Italian

This is Sofia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni at their very best. This romantic Italian comedy is broken into three parts which tell three stories of three different women and the men they attract. Loren and Mastroianni play all three couples.

Starting in Naples, Loren’s character, Adelina, sells black-market cigarettes while her unemployed husband avoids jails sentence by keeping her pregnant. In Milan, Loren plays Anna, a wealthy but bored woman who wears Dior and drives a Rolls Royce. She picks up a writer (Mastroianni) and dreams of running away with him. The final chapter is set in Rome, where call girl Mara causes a young seminarian to reconsider joining the church.

Ieri, oggi e domani is available in streaming, DVD and Blu-ray formats on Amazon.

9. Pane e tulipani (Bread and Tulips)

Released: 2000
Languages: Italian

After missing the bus back home after a family holiday, Italian housewife Rosalba decides to take this opportunity to rebel from her tedious household duties and decides to start a new life in Venice. Pane e tulipani explores love in all its forms including romantic, family, and platonic relationships.

Pane e tulipani is available in streaming, DVD and Blu-ray formats on Amazon.

10. Scusa ma ti chiamo amore (Sorry, If I Love You )

Released: 2000
Languages: Italian

Alex Belli (Raoul Bova) plays a successful advertising executive who is unexpectedly dumped after his girlfriend leaves him after proposing. Niki is a confident 17-year-old girl who collides with Alex on her scooter on the streets of Rome. Despite their 20-year age gap, they begin fall for each other. The sequel to the film is Scusa ma ti voglio sposare (Sorry If I Want to Marry You).

Scusa ma ti chiamo amore is available in streaming, DVD and Blu-ray formats on Amazon.

11. Tre metri sopra il cielo (Three Steps Over Heaven)

Released: 2004
Languages: Italian

Steven Mancini, nicknamed “Step”, (Riccardo Scamarcio) is a thug with a violent past who falls for Roberta Gervasi aka “Babi”, a model student with a busy social life attending elite parties. Destiny brings Babi and Step together where they fall in love for the first time. Babi is introduced into a new world and nothing can seem to separate the two. Their relationship is put to the test when a mutual friend passes away.

If you enjoyed this film, don’t miss the hugely anticipated sequel, Ho voglia di te (I want you). This film is based on the book of the same title by Federico Moccia, the same author of Scusa ma ti chiamo amore.

Tre metri sopra il cielo is available on DVD on Amazon.

12. To Rome with Love

Released: 2012
Languages: English

Woody Allen’s To Rome with Love is a comedy that brings together four tales of love set in Rome. We meet John (Alec Baldwin) a well-known American architect who encounters Jack (Jesse Eisenberg) and finds himself reliving his youth as Jack develops feelings for his girlfriend’s friend (Ellen Page).

The brilliant Roberto Benigni plays Leopoldo an average middle-class Roman who suddenly becomes a huge celebrity. There there is a young provincial couple drawn to the city and find themselves caught up in separate romantic encounters. Finally, Woody Allen’s character is a once-famous opera director who tries to revive his career when he discovers a mortician with an incredible voice.

While this isn’t my favourite film on this list, I can’t help but watch for its incredible cinematography. Allen shows Rome at her absolute best, under the golden summer light.

To Rome with Love is available in streaming, DVD and Blu-ray formats on Amazon.

13. Dieci inverni (Ten Winters)

Released: 2009
Languages: Italian

Dieci inverni is based on the novel by Valerio Mieli who also directed this film and went on to win the David di Donatello for Best New Director. Dieci inverni is about Silvestro (Michele Riondino) and Camilla (Isabella Ragonese), who after a chance encounter in Venice, fall in love. Over the next 10 winters, they meet and once again thrust back into each other’s arms.

Dieci inverni is available in streaming, DVD and Blu-ray formats on Amazon.

14. Eat Pray Love

Released: 2010
Languages: English (small parts in Italian)

I couldn’t not put this one on the list. It’s such a feel-good film. Based on the true story of author Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts), who after divorcing her husband takes a year-long sabbatical to go on a soul searching adventure across three countries, Italy, India and Bali. I recommend reading the book first before seeing the film as it gives you a lot more context, as you would expect from a book.

Eay Pray Love is available in streaming, DVD and Blu-ray formats on Amazon.

15. Malèna

Released: 2010
Languages: Italian

Set in Sicily, we follow the story through the eyes of 13-year-old Renato as he follows the stunning Monica Bellucci play Malèna Scordia, a war widow who was every man’s obsession and the envy of every woman. This film is incredibly moving, well-directed, cast, and acted. You can’t fault it. È fantastico!

Malena is available in streaming, DVD and Blu-ray formats on Amazon.

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15 Romantic Italian Films That’ll Make You Love Italy Even More