The film “” premiered in 2024. In the production based on the novel by Robert Harris, the main roles are played by Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow. The action focuses on a fictitious conspiracy discovered by a group of cardinals who are working on choosing a new pope. The film can be watched as a subscription to Amazon Prime Video. Where was the movie recorded?
However, the creators of the film “Conclave”, which premiered in 2024, did not make photos in this place. With the implementation of the scenes, the production moved to the suburbs of Rome, to the famous Cinecittà film studio.
Mysterious places of the Vatican in the imagination of filmmakers. Where was the film “Conclave”?
The search for the scenery and stage design for the film “Conclave” began in 2022. For filmmakers it was a difficult task – recording in the interior of the Vatican and the Sistine chapel is impossible. However, with the help of old recordings and photos as well as the knowledge of Catholic advisers and experts, we managed to create a plan in the legendary Cinecittà Studios. This is a film studio located in the suburbs of Rome, in which the largest film works of Federico Fellini (including “La Dolce Vita”, “Eight and a half”). For Fellini, Cinecittà was the second house, but not only he created here. Sergio Leone’s “spaghetti westerny” was also created here. Martin Scorsese recorded here “New York gangs” and Mel Gibson “Passion”. In general, thousands of productions were carried out in the studio, which was established in the 1930s. Thousands of scenery were also built for the needs of filmmakers. Sistine chapels were click. One of the last ones was created when Nanni Moretti was shooting “Habemus Papam – we have a pope.” The remains of these decorations were found in the warehouse. Producers “conclave” restored them and arranged them again. According to the Los Angeles Times, the assembly lasted almost 10 weeks, and the next eight weeks took to build additional sets of the House of Saint Marta. Interestingly, although the rugs in the real Sistine Chapel are beige, the stage designer decided to put the red carpet. According to Suza, Davies was more extravagant and effective.
Cinecittà Studios in Rome, a Sistine Chapel and the House of Saint Marta from the movie “Conclave” were created here
The House of Saint Marta was also established in Cinecittà Studios. The place where the cardinals stay in isolation gained a more modern, raw character. Suzie Davies was inspired by the Italian architect Carlo Scarpa and brutalist architecture, creating a prison -like atmosphere. The contrast between the warm reds and gold of the Sistine Chapel and the cool blue of the House of Saint Marta was to emphasize the tension and moral dilemmas of the heroes.
In addition to the Cinecittà studio, the film team used nearly 50 locations in Rome and the surrounding area. The military canteen served as a dining room for the House of Saint Marta. Ospedale Santo Spirito in Rome, i.e. the Holy Spirit Hospital – the oldest hospital in Europe, which today serves as a congress center, turned into the Vatican’s field for the film. However, in Palazzo Barberini (Barberini Palace) a 15-meter crucifix hung. And the interiors of the Italian Royal Palace in Casert were part of the Vatican.
Visiting Rome in the footsteps of “conclave”
If we want to visit places related to the film, we can easily go to visit Cinecittà Studios. Although films are still being made in the film studio, some can be visited with a guide. However, it is worth making an appointment before if we want the guide to speak English – such a trip takes place only once a day. However, if we do not make it, a trip in Italian also has its charms. On the spot we will see a lot of residues after the scenery from the largest productions. You can also visit Palazzo Barberini, where Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica, i.e. the National Arts Museum of Old Arts, where works are exhibited, including Caravaggia, Rafael or El Greco. However, it is also worth going to the Vatican and visiting museums and the Sistine chapel to compare the ideas of filmmakers with reality. However, it should be remembered that in the Sistine chapel you can not take photos, even amateur ones.
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