Countless Hollywood blockbusters have been set or filmed in Italy - “The Italian Job” in Turin, “The Passion of Christ” in Matera and “Demons & Angels” in Caserta and Rome, to name but a few. In 2009, when it was announced that scenes from the film adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight book series, “New Moon”, would be filmed in the beautiful Montepulciano area in the province of Siena, the town gained international attention and fans began flocking to the site. Not only is the town stunning and fascinating in its own right but it now is additionally attractive to fans of the franchise and film-making in general.
If you want to visit the sets for yourself, find a villa with internet in Montepulciano and you can upload your photos of the town right away!
The Italian scenes of the movie were set in a fictional version of the town of Volterra, scenes were actually filmed in Montepulciano.
Montepulciano's historic town centre was a key location for filming and shots were also filmed on the winding, picturesque country roads surrounding the town, at the San Biagio temple and in the tiny back streets of the town.
The Italian scenes of the movie were set in a fictional version of the town of Volterra, scenes were actually filmed in Montepulciano.
Montepulciano's historic town centre was a key location for filming and shots were also filmed on the winding, picturesque country roads surrounding the town, at the San Biagio temple and in the tiny back streets of the town.
Indoor scenes featuring the ancient, and cruel, Volturi vampires of the story were filmed inside the Palazzo del Comune, the Cantina del Redi and other historical buildings located in the centre of Montepulciano. The key scene of the whole film, in which the protagonist, Bella Swan, rushes across a piazza crowded with attendees of an ancient festival to save her boyfriend, Edward Cullen, from committing suicide, were filmed in the Piazza Grande and the entrance to the Palazzo del Comune.
A seven meter tall fountain described in the book was missing from the piazza and had to be built on site from wood and papier-mâché.
Tours of the areas used to film the movie are available to this day and lead you to all of the spots used in the town. Afterwards, you can enjoy a vampire-themed meal accompanied by the Nobile di Montepulciano red wine for which the area is well-known and which is considered one of the best wines in Italy by connoisseurs. In fact, if you haven't had enough of tours, you can also visit the historic wine cellars of the area as well, to get a real sense of this delicious local product.
There's much more to see and do in Montepulciano besides so be sure to visit on your next trip to Tuscany – maybe you'll discover your own epic love story in the process!
A seven meter tall fountain described in the book was missing from the piazza and had to be built on site from wood and papier-mâché.
Tours of the areas used to film the movie are available to this day and lead you to all of the spots used in the town. Afterwards, you can enjoy a vampire-themed meal accompanied by the Nobile di Montepulciano red wine for which the area is well-known and which is considered one of the best wines in Italy by connoisseurs. In fact, if you haven't had enough of tours, you can also visit the historic wine cellars of the area as well, to get a real sense of this delicious local product.
There's much more to see and do in Montepulciano besides so be sure to visit on your next trip to Tuscany – maybe you'll discover your own epic love story in the process!
Photo credits
picture 1: Gerald Geronimo / CC BY-SA 2.0;
picture 2: Lorena / CC BY-SA 2.0;
picture 3: Alex Pears / CC BY-SA 2.0
picture 1: Gerald Geronimo / CC BY-SA 2.0;
picture 2: Lorena / CC BY-SA 2.0;
picture 3: Alex Pears / CC BY-SA 2.0
