Romantic and endlessly captivating, Italy has long been a muse not only for writers and poets who have sung its praises but also for filmmakers who have turned its beauty into cinematic stories that have charmed generations of moviegoers. If you’re in the mood to immerse yourself in the Italian atmosphere, pour yourself a glass of Primitivo and set aside the evening for one of these enchanting films that carry the scent of Italy. Here are my recommendations:

1. THE GODFATHER – Francis Ford Coppola

If you love films with an Italian theme, you can’t miss this one. A classic, it won 3 Oscars in 1973. You’ve probably watched it at least ten times already, but it’s worth it every time—for all those iconic lines you know by heart, eagerly waiting to hear them again delivered by Marlon Brando in his slightly gravelly voice. And if you’re up for it, go hardcore and watch the entire series (The Godfather I, II, and III).

2. LA DOLCE VITA – Federico Fellini

Another unmissable Italian classic. It follows the story of a paparazzo (back when the job still had style) searching for subjects and meaning on the streets of Rome. Marcello Mastroianni’s portrayal of the journalist Marcello is iconic. This film not only won the top prize at Cannes in 1960 but also earned an Oscar in 1962.

3. NUOVO CINEMA PARADISO – Giuseppe Tornatore

A cinematic masterpiece that will make you fall in love again: with Italy, with people, with life, and with the magic of cinema itself. A "paradise" you’ll want to return to time and time again. It won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 1990.

4. ROMAN HOLIDAY – William Wyler

Audrey Hepburn, in perhaps her most beloved role, for which she won an Oscar in 1954. She plays a princess tired of her royal duties, who decides to explore the Eternal City on her own, living as an ordinary person. He, a journalist who recognizes her but pretends he doesn’t, secretly planning to use the scoop for an exclusive article. The love story that unfolds between them has become a reference point in the history of romantic comedies.

5. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (LA VITA È BELLA) – Roberto Benigni

A moving yet hopeful story that earned 3 Oscars in 1999. A comedy (as it could only be with Roberto Benigni in the lead) interspersed with the drama of a beautiful family, the innocent victims of the Holocaust, but also filled with love that, in the end, conquers all. A superb film reminding us that, beyond everything, life is so beautiful.

6. THE GREAT BEAUTY (LA GRANDE BELLEZZA) – Paolo Sorrentino

A declared tribute to Fellini’s cinema and the great Italian cinematic tradition. An art film about sensitivity, the destiny of a writer, and the Great Beauty of Life. Not surprisingly, it won the Golden Globe and the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 2014.

7. TO ROME WITH LOVE – Woody Allen

Rome has fascinated many, and this list wouldn’t be complete without Woody Allen, the master of city-centered films. After Barcelona and Paris, Woody Allen turned his attention to the Eternal City, recreating a humorous story in his signature style, capturing the charm of life in Rome and the characters that animate it.

8. AMARCORD – Federico Fellini

Another Fellini masterpiece, Amarcord earned him the Oscar for Best Director in 1976 and made many fall in love with his films. Set in a coastal Italian town in the 1930s, *Amarcord* magically captures the joys, sorrows, and splendor of small-town Italian life, where even the smallest incident can become a grand event.

9. UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN – Audrey Wells

Perfect for an imaginary getaway to Tuscany, especially when you need a refreshing break, just like the character played by Diane Lane, a writer who arrives under the Tuscan sun completely downcast but soon finds herself unexpectedly falling in love again.

10. EAT, PRAY, LOVE – Ryan Murphy

Liz Gilbert’s journey of self-discovery (played by Julia Roberts) begins in Italy, specifically in Rome, where she learns to rediscover the joy of life, so characteristic of the Italians, through the simple pleasure of a delicious meal after a series of personal failures.

11. A ROOM WITH A VIEW – James Ivory

A romantic tale set against the poetic backdrop of Florence, Tuscany’s capital, which has always had the power to mark and change people’s lives. The “view” from this room is especially memorable, winning 3 Oscars in 1987.

12. THE TRIP TO ITALY – Michael Winterbottom

A delightful road trip where the main characters aren’t the two famous restaurant critics, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, but Italy itself—with its breathtaking landscapes from Liguria, Tuscany, Rome, the Amalfi Coast, and Capri, and its fascinating cuisine, capable of charming anyone, especially food lovers.

13. MALÈNA – Giuseppe Tornatore

This time, Tornatore takes us to the timeless beauty of Sicily, along with Monica Bellucci’s equally mesmerizing and sensual presence. Both are unforgettable in this film, though the story itself is a tragic one.