Light in the Piazza

Date: 1962
Director: Guy Green
Production Company: MGM

Stars: Olivia De Havilland, Rossano Brazzi, Yvette Mimieux, George Hamilton
Location(s): Tuscany

Region(s): Italy

Storyline:

Girl with mental problems receives chance of a romantic life in Italy.

Additional Information:

For quite a while, we only had one shot from this title but a recent dvd release, on the back of the Broadway show, has expanded this entry.

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We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

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A holiday in Italy beckons. Basilica San Miniato al Monte, Firenze in Tuscany, on the southside of the river Arno.

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Mimieux, recovering from a head injury, which has set back her maturity, with her mother de Havilland. In front of the Loggia dei Lanzi in the south end of the Piazza della Signoria.

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Taking a rest from the rigours of sightseeing. At No1 Piazza della Signoria, known as Pizzeria Orcagna.

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24 Mar 2026

Looking east on the Piazza della Signoria with the long-standing David replica outside the Palazzo Vecchio.

On a recent trip to Florence, Esther Scott visited the film's locations.

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24 Mar 2026

A closer shot of the Palazzo Vecchio as local glamour boy Hamilton rescues Mimieux's hat.

The unchanging scene taken by Esther Scott.

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04 May 2022

Panning to the left to take in the Fountain of Neptune.

A shot sent in by Lynn Florkiewicz. (SJ)

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A little further south now at the Piazzale degli Uffizi.

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Hamilton "bumps" into the pair of American tourists again.

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24 Mar 2026

Hamilton's charm extends to buying flowers. That bronze porcine with a well-rubbed snout to return to Florence is Il Porcellino, which resides on the Piazza del Mercato Nuovo.

An off angle view by Esther Scott due to the crowd of people vying for position.

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Outdoor activity: I wonder whether this pool is still open. The answer is "NO", Geoff Dodd tells us that it is not Italy but Enfield, North London and the pool has since been built on. How does he know this? Because the pool also features in the 'Danger Man' episode 'The Professionals'. Tony McKay apparently read in a book that Aida Young (who worked on both productions) had said that because of bad weather in Italy, filming of the outdoor pool scenes were delayed until the unit returned to the UK and were eventually shot in Enfield. Within an hour Tony had located it, on a property called Kingswood on Clay Hill. (RL)

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Hamilton greets Brazzi as the tourists now feel paired up.

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Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, just south of the railway station.

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Hamilton, Mimieux and de Havilland enjoy the pomp of the piazza.

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The mother and daughter cross a piazza to visit Brazzi's family... Identified by Chris Sauve as Piazza Del Carmine, which is south of the Arno river and almost directly across the river from the St. Regis hotel, which was "The Grand Hotel" in the film, seen in cap33. (SJ)

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Mimieux knocks on the door... which is still there with thanks to Chris Sauve. Looking south across the Piazza Del Carmine with the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Carmine in shadow in the background. (SJ)

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de Havilland goes solo on the way to the US consulate.

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27 May 2020

More Florentine streets; the Basilica di Santa Croce in Firenze, east of the Palazzo Vecchio.

Snapped by ER while covering "Room with a View" back in 2013. (SJ)

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At her destination: the US consulate which is still at Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci, 38, 50123 Firenze. This is very close to capture 33, west of the centre.

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Ponte Vecchio

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Piazzale degli Uffizi.

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Piazza della Stazione. "The 1951 Fiat 1100 cab arrives at the railway terminus Firenze Santa Maria Novella, where de Havilland and Mimieux take the train for Rome." Manuel G.

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Hamilton is too late as de Havilland whisks off Mimieux out of his reach. "However, this is obviously not Florence’s main station as the following scenes are filmed at Roma Ostiense station, also to seen in "Von Ryan's Express" (Captures 31 to 34), standing in for Firenze S.M.N. too." Manuel

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26 May 2020

Brazzi and de Havilland are now in Rome between the Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine.

Rather brutal in so many ways. SJ

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26 May 2020

The camera pans right looking west.

Looking up the Via Sacra towards the Arch of Titus. SJ

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Above the forum and a third arch, that of Septimius Severus. The spot where Peck first met Hepburn in 'Roman Holiday' as well as appearing in 'Blue Murder at St. Trinian’s' and 'Where the Spies Are'.

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05 Aug 2026

The Spanish Steps, which appear in many other productions including 'Blue Murder at St. Trinian's', 'Seven Hills of Rome', 'The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone', 'The Talented Mr Ripley', 'Light in the Piazza' and 'If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium'.