Roman Holiday

Roman Holiday Quick List:

Colosseum

Mouth of Truth

Trevi Fountain

G. Rocca Caffe (now a fashion shop near the Pantheon)

Barbershop next to the Trevi Fountain, which is actually a clothing store

Spanish Steps

Roman Forum

Castel Sant'Angelo

Piazza del Popolo

Vatican City

Trajan's Column

Arch of Septimius Severus

Piazza Venezia

Teatro di Marcelo

Temple of Hercules Victor

The Fountain of the Tritons

Giolitti Gelato Shop

Via Margutta 51 (Bradley's apartment)

Palazzo Barberini (Princess Ann's embassy, exterior shots)

Palazzo Brancaccio (Princess Ann's embassy, interior shots)

Palazzo Colonna (Princess Ann's press conference)

Roman Holiday is one of my favorite movies. Princess Ann, royalty from an unnamed European country, decided that she was tired of her constant and tiring royal duties and wanted an escape, even if just for one day, from her responsibilities. She snuck out of the embassy where she was staying, and wandered off into the heart of Rome. After meeting Joe Bradley, a newspaper reporter, the two of them end up spending the day together, each of them without telling the other their true identity. Throughout their adventures in Rome, they fall in love with each other. Because of Princess Ann's loyalty to her home country, the two of them part at the end of their day together in Rome and both go back to their previous lives. The film is delightful, especially when you recognize many of the filming locations from trips to Italy. If you plan to visit Rome, definitely watch this movie first!

Roman Holiday was released in 1953 and is all in black and white. Audrey Hepburn stars as Princess Ann and Gregory Peck as Joe Bradley. The movie was filmed entirely on location in Rome, Italy. Over the years when I've visited Rome I have found some of the famous sites from this movie, but on my most recent trip to Rome in March of 2025, my daughter Rebecca and I searched for most of the sites from this beloved movie. We still have a few sites left to find on our next trip to Rome!

Disclaimer at the beginning of the film, with the Roman Forum in the background. This is the Arch of Septimius Severus, which is where Joe Bradley finds Ann soon into the film.

Piazza del Popolo

This photo from the opening credits was taken on Piazza del Popolo, the Fontana dei Leoni in the forefront, and the twin churches of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto in the background.

Fontana dei Leoni, or Fountain of the Four Lions on Piazza del Popolo, in 2025. This fountain is unique in Italy because it is one of the only fountains that you can get up close and personal with -- it is not roped or fenced off. People can sit on it and walk through it. The obelisk in the middle of the fountain is called the Flaminio Obelisk.

The twin churches of Santa Maria del Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto in 2025, on Piazza del Popolo. The Flaminio Obelisk in the center of the Fountain of the Four Lions is central in this photo.

Trajan's Column

The opening credits that list the stars has behind the writing, the Trajan's Column, which is located in the Roman Forum in the Trajan's Forum section.

Trajan's Column in 2025

My daughter at Trajan's Column in 2025

Vatican City

This opening title shot from 1953 was in Vatican City, specifically on St. Peter's Square - the Vatican Obelisk stands in the center of the square, and the Maderno Fountain is visible under the "M"

1953 shot from the beginning of the movie, of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. The movie leads the viewer to believe that a parade is held for Princess Ann in Vatican City, although they did not really film inside Vatican City but rather recreated the parade at a different location in Rome. The Maderno Fountain is visible on the right side of this photo.

view of St Peter's Square in Vatican City, while standing in the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica, in 2025

St. Peter's Basilica behind me, as well as the Vatican Obelisk, in 2025

Colosseum

Princess Ann and Joe Bradley riding their Vespa scooter towards the Colosseum in 1953

Ann and Joe tour the Colosseum with Irving in 1953

The Colosseum in 2025

Our recent visit to the Colosseum in 2025

My daughter and I inside the Colosseum in 2025

The Arch of Septimius Severus on the Roman Forum

Ann and Joe first meet on the Roman Forum, where Ann is asleep next to the Arch of Septimius Severus. Incidentally, back when Roman Holiday was filmed, obviously it was possible to drive through the Roman Forum. You could definitely not do that today! It is a pedestrian-only zone and cars could not get anywhere near the Arch of Septimius Severus or the Temple of Concord anymore!

Joe Bradley walks through the Roman Forum past the Temple of Concord right before he meets Princess Ann in front of the Arch of Septimius Severus

Joe and Ann in front of the Arch of Septimius Severus

Taxi stops in front of the arch and Temple on the Roman Forum to offer Joe and Ann a ride

The Arch of Septimius Severus in 2020

When we visited in 2025 we couldn't get near the Arch of Septimius Severus because the area was under construction. I cannot even imagine being able to drive cars through this area today.

The Mouth of Truth

Located in the Santa Maria in Cosmedin Church, the Bocca della Verita is a giant marble face with an open mouth. Legend says that if you put your hand in his mouth and tell a lie, you will lose your hand. You can visit the Mouth of Truth and wait in line to put your hand in its mouth. In the movie, Joe tells Ann about the legend and encourages her to put her hand in its mouth. She is able to safely pull her hand from the mouth of the marble face. Joe, on the other hand, pretends to have lost his hand inside the Mouth of Truth, which greatly upsets Ann but gives Joe a great laugh.

Joe about to put his hand inside the Mouth of Truth in 1953

Joe and Irving laughing as they leave the Mouth of Truth

Ann prepares to put her hand in the Mouth of Truth

My daughter was lucky enough to keep her hand in 2025

Location of Mouth of Truth: Piazza della Bocca della Verita, 00186, Roma

Spanish Steps

Princess Ann purchases gelato from a street vendor right in front of the Spanish Steps, while Joe follows her and eventually greets her on the steps. The two of them then decide to spend the day together doing all the things that Princess Ann always wished she could do.

My daughter on the Spanish Steps in 2025

Trevi Fountain

Princess Ann approaches the Trevi Fountain soon after leaving Joe Bradley's apartment. Joe follows her from his apartment and watches from afar while she gets a haircut at a barbershop next to the Trevi Fountain.

Joe beside the Trevi Fountain, with the Barber Shop in the background of this photo where Princess Ann is getting her hair cut

Joe attempts to buy a camera from a child on a school trip at the Trevi Fountain

Ann admires the Trevi Fountain just before going into a barber shop to get a haircut

The Trevi Fountain in 2025

Crowds surrounding the Trevi Fountain in 2025

My daughter and I at the Trevi Fountain in 2025

The Barbershop Next to the Trevi Fountain

The location of the barbershop is at Via della Stamperia 85 and is no longer a barbershop, but just a regular souvenir shop.

Ann spots a barbershop next to the Trevi Fountain and decides to get a haircut

Looking inside the display case of the barbershop, as well as at her reflection

Inside the barbershop

The "barbershop" in 2025, now selling clothing

The interior of the "barber shop" in 2025

Vespa Scooter

At our hotel, the Hotel Genova in Rome, they have this scooter and poster on display. I asked if this was the actual scooter from the movie, and was told that it was a scooter a couple years newer than the one used in the movie. It was still worth posing next to, though.

Ann and Joe ride their Vespa Scooter above the Spanish Steps

Ann on her joyride through town before she is stopped by police for property destruction

My daughter with our hotel's Vespa Scooter in 2025

G. Rocca Caffe

One of Princess Ann's wishes was to eat at an outdoor cafe. So, Joe Bradley took her to the G Rocca Caffe, which was created for the movie. Cafe Rocca isn't actually a cafe -- today it's a clothing store. We located the clothing store at the corner of Piazza della Rotonda. It is located at the northwest corner of the Pantheon. The address if Via della Rotonda, 25.

Ann and Joe seated at the G. Rocca Caffe with a beautiful view of the Pantheon beside them.

Irving kisses Francesca as he prepares to spend the day inconspicuously taking photos of Ann. You can see both the Pantheon and the Fontana del Pantheon in the background

2025

Location of the G. Rocca Cafe: the corner of Via della Rotonda

The clothing shop at the G. Rocca Caffe spot in 2025

2025

view of the Pantheon from the corner where the Caffe was, 2025

The Fontana del Pantheon in 2025 with the Pantheon in the background

Piazza Venezia & the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II

Joe and Ann ride their Vespa scooter towards the Piazza Venezia

The Victor Emmanuel II Monument in 2025

Teatro di Marcelo

For a moment the Teatro de Marcelo is in view when Ann and Joe ride past it on their Vespa scooter. It can easily be confused for the Colosseum because the two buildings do look similar. But the Teatro de Marcelo was completed in 12 BC and is close to the Tiber river.

1953 Ann and Joe riding past the Teatro

The Teatro de Marcelo in 2025

The address is Via del Teatro di Marcelo, 00186 in Rome

Temple of Hercules Victor

Across the street from the Mouth of Truth is the Temple of Hercules Victor. Ann, Joe, and Irving find themselves in the police station after taking a joyride through Rome on the Vespa scooter and upsetting a lot of local shops. After coming out of the police station, the Temple of Hercules Victor is in sight. It is believed that the Mouth of Truth used to be a drain cover inside the Temple of Hercules Victor. The Temple has a round opening in the roof. It appears that in 1953 the Temple was not surrounded by fences as it is today.

The Fountain of the Tritons is also visible in this photo

The Fountain of the Tritons in 2025

Fountain of the Tritons with the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in the background. The Mouth of Truth is inside the Santa Maria in Cosmedin

Fontana dei Tritoni, 2025, not to be confused with the Triton Fountain in the Piazza Barberini

Temple of Hercules Victor in 2025

Location of Temple of Hercules Victor, near the Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Verita)

The Castel Sant'Angelo

After getting her hair cut, Ann is invited by her new barber to go dancing that evening at the barges near Castel Sant'Angelo. After spending the day with Joe Bradley, she suggests that they attend the dance. While dancing, Ann is spotted by some of the secret servicemen who are searching Rome for her. A fight ensues and Ann and Joe end up escaping by jumping into the Tiber River. When my daughter and I visited Castel Sant'Angelo in 2025, we tried to decipher the exact spot where the dance had taken place. Obviously the barges that were used for filming are no longer there, but you can locate the stairs that descend from the Bridge of Angels near the farthest side from the Castel Sant'Angelo.

1953, Ann and Joe descending the stairs from the Bridge of Angels to join the dance on the barges

The Castel Sant'Angelo visible above the river

Ann and Joe joining the dance

The secret service arrive on the Bridge of Angels, looking for Princess Ann. Today only pedestrians are allowed on the Bridge of Angels.

view from the Bridge of Angels of the dance in the Tiber River below

After jumping into the Tiber River to escape the secret service, Ann and Joe swim to the shore on the other side of the Bridge of Angels, with the Castel Sant'Angelo in the background

Joe and Ann just shared a passionate kiss and now they are headed to find Irving's car so they can get dried off and warmed up.

You can see the stairs on the far left of this photo where Ann and Joe descended to join the dance, which took place on barges on the shore next to the Bridge of Angels, taken in 2025

Castel Sant'Angelo in 2025

The Bridge of Angels in 2025, for pedestrians only

The Bridge of Angels and Castel Sant'Angelo

The other side of the Bridge of Angels, where Ann and Joe climbed out of the lake and onto the shore

Taken from the roof of Castel Sant'Angelo in 2025, the Bridge of Angels and the shoreline where the dance took place in 1953

Wishing Wall

One filming location for Roman Holiday is no longer where it used to be in 1953 - the wall of wishes. I have been unable to discover the truth online of where this wall used to be located. The wishes are now located inside the Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amor. Some say that the original film location of the Wall of Wishes was on the Aurelian Walls, but I have not been able to locate where the specific place was.

Unknown location of the Wall of Wishes in 1953

Supposed location of the Wishes in 2025

Palazzo Colonna

The Palazzo Colonna was used for the final scene of the movie when Princess Ann greets the press. She realizes who Joe and Irving really are, and she and Joe give each other a silent farewell. My daughter and I tried to visit Palazzo Colonna in 2025, but we arrived on a day that it was not open. It has very specific and limited hours. You can visit for a tour in English on Fridays at 9:30 am or on Saturday without a guide. The cost for the guided tour is 35 euro. The official website for Palazzo Colonna is here: Palazzo Colonna

The next time I visit Rome I'm going to make sure I'm there on a Friday or Saturday so that I can visit the interior of this beautiful palazzo!

Members of the press wait inside Palazzo Colonna for the interview with Princess Ann

Joe and Irving move towards the front of the group for the press conference

Princess Ann at her press conference in Palazzo Colonna

Princess Ann meets members of the press

Joe walks down the long hallway as he leaves the Palazzo Colonna

The entrance to Palazzo Colonna when it is open on Fridays and Saturdays

Visiting hours to Palazzo Colonna

Exterior of Palazzo Colonna

Palazzo Brancaccio

The Interior of the embassy and specifically Princess Ann's bedroom was shot inside Palazzo Brancaccio. Today the palazzo is only used for weddings or special events, although you could try contacting them and asking for a private tour on their official website: Palazzo Brancaccio

The interior of Palazzo Brancaccio when Princess Ann greets royalty from around the world

Princess Ann's bedroom

Princess Ann escapes, inside the Palazzo Brancaccio

Princess Ann trying to put her shoe back on her foot during the ball at the embassy

Princess Ann's bedroom doors

Princess Ann climbing out of the window of the Palazzo Brancaccio

Palazzo Barberini

The exterior shots of the embassy were at the Palazzo Barberini. I haven't visited the Palazzo Barberini yet, but it's high on my list for my next trip to Rome! The Palazzo Barberini is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm. Tickets cost 15 euro each. It is located at Via della Quattro Fontane, 13 in Rome. Their official website is here: Palazzo Barberini

Princess Ann sneaking out of the embassy in a delivery cart

Cars entering the embassy for the party to honor Princess Ann's arrival

Joe dropping off Ann at the embassy

Joe Bradley's Apartment - Via Margutta 51

I also haven't taken the time to find Joe Bradley's apartment, which is at Via Margutta 51. You can actually visit the exterior of his apartment, although the spiral staircase was created for the film. The tunneled entryway is actually there, as is the landlord apartment over the tunnel. The terrace that overlooks the city is also there, although not actually attached to apartment 51. Via Margutta is located between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo. I'm very upset with myself, because when we visited Rome in March of 2025, we walked from the Spanish Steps to Piazza del Popolo and I didn't realize that we could have easily visited Via Margutta 51 on the way until after I got home! Next time!

The spiral staircase created for the film that is supposed to lead to Joe Bradley's apartment

Terrace that was supposedly Joe Bradley's overlooking Rome. You can see the twin churches of Piazza del Popolo on the far left.

This tunnel exiting the apartment complex is actually there, as is the landlord's apartment above the tunnel.

Giolitti Gelato Shop

The Giolitti Gelato Shop wasn't actually in Roman Holiday, but it's believed that Gregory Peck liked their gelato so much that he suggested Giolitti gelato be used for the Spanish Steps ice cream scene. My daughter and I went to find their actual shop and enjoyed some gelato there. Giolitti is located at Via degli Uffici del Vicario, 40, 00186, only a couple minutes from the Pantheon.