La Dolce Vita · Filming location
St Peter's Square and dome
In the story · The opening (the statue over Rome); Sylvia climbs the dome
A real filming location for the opening: a helicopter carries a statue of Christ over Rome to St Peter's, with Marcello following in a second helicopter. Later Sylvia, just arrived in Rome, runs up the stairs of Michelangelo's dome followed by panting reporters; the top of the dome in that scene was rebuilt on a set at Cinecittà, but you can climb the real one.
Where to stay nearby
Stay a 2-min walk from hereMap with prices from several sites · distance: OpenStreetMap
or on Booking.com- With this place
- Day by day
- Free
Are you here?
More to do here
Things to do
La Dolce Vita: a tour linked to the story
Private photo walk with a photographer · from Trevi Fountain · about 1 h 30 min · Guide in English, Italian, French, Spanish, or Russian
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More La Dolce Vita places nearby
Piazza del Popolo1.8 km away · 24 min on foot
Trevi Fountain2.1 km away · 29 min on foot
Via Veneto2.7 km away · 36 min on foot
Famous places nearby
Not places of the story, but worth the walk.
Where to stand for the photo
From the end of Via della Conciliazione, frame the dome with the square opening in front; from the dome's terrace, look down on the colonnade.
Getting there
- Address: Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano
- Transport
- Metro A to Ottaviano, then about 10 minutes on foot.
- Access
- The square is free. The basilica and the climb to the dome have security checks, a dress code and, for the dome, a ticket. Check before you go.
Public sources (2)
Sources found on October 17, 2026.
Every place checked against public sources
Production · film commissions · tourist boards · guides
We always say if it is:
- The real filming location
- A place standing in for it
- Inspired by the story
From other stories, nearby
- Castel Sant'AngeloRoman Holiday750 m away · 10 min on foot
- Castel Sant'AngeloEat Pray Love750 m away · 10 min on foot
- Ponte Sant'AngeloThe Talented Mr. Ripley750 m away · 10 min on foot
- Ponte Sant'AngeloRipley750 m away · 10 min on foot
Where to eat nearby
Ristorante La Vittoria
290 m away · 4 min on footItalian€€Restaurant and pizzeria near St Peter's, below the Janiculum terrace seen in Emily in Paris
Perdinci Bistrò
400 m away · 5 min on footbistro€€Roman bistro by San Pietro station, below the Janiculum hill whose terrace appears in Emily in Paris
Da Romolo alla Mole Adriana
410 m away · 5 min on foottrattoria€€Roman restaurant since 1927 in Borgo Pio, a short walk from St Peter's Square of La Dolce Vita's opening
Every place checked against public sources
Production · film commissions · tourist boards · guides
We always say if it is:
- The real filming location
- A place standing in for it
- Inspired by the story
Every place checked against public sources
Production · film commissions · tourist boards · guides
We always say if it is:
- The real filming location
- A place standing in for it
- Inspired by the story