Where was Rome filmed? Giant aqueducts, ancient ruins, and a massive studio backlot. Discover where HBO’s legendary series came to life in Italy.
Rome (2005–2007) wasn’t your average sword-and-sandals drama. HBO and BBC teamed up to give us 22 episodes of backstabbing, centurion bromances, and enough political intrigue to make your family Thanksgiving look tame.
Think Game of Thrones in togas, but with more historical accuracy and less dragon fire.
The cast? Absolutely stacked: Kevin McKidd as the loyal Lucius Vorenus, Ray Stevenson as the scene-stealing Titus Pullo, Polly Walker as the scheming Atia, and James Purefoy as the tragically ambitious Mark Antony.
Oh, and a young Caesarion… and Cleopatra (Lyndsey Marshal), causing chaos.
The plot? Rome’s Republic is crumbling. Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, dies dramatically, and everyone fights over the scraps. Octavian grows from a weird kid to a ruthless emperor. And our two favorite soldiers just want to go home.
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📍 HBO’s Rome Filming Locations
But where did the magic happen? Let’s go location scouting.
🏛️ Cinecittà Studios, Rome – The Heart of the Republic
What was filmed here? Nearly everything indoors and the entire Roman Forum. The Senate chamber, Atia’s lavish villa, the slums of the Subura, and those claustrophobic army tents.
The set spanned five acres and included a Forum built at 60% scale of the real thing. Why not full-size? Budget… oh wait, the first season cost $100 million anyway.
The production team painted everything in bright, vibrant colors because real Roman ruins weren’t white marble – they were garish and proud of it.
Imagine walking onto this set and realizing the “ancient world” smells like fresh paint and espresso. The crew reportedly had to shoo away actual Roman tourists who thought it was a new museum.
Sadly, a 2007 fire destroyed part of the set after Season 2 wrapped. But the Forum survived and later showed up in Doctor Who (“The Fires of Pompeii”). Yes, David Tennant once ran from lava where Mark Antony plotted murder.
Book a tour:
- Rome: Cinecittà World, the Cinema Theme Park
- Cinecittà World: Round-trip transfer with park admission
Travel tips:
- Visit via the “Cinecittà Shows Off” tour. English tours are on Saturdays at 11:30 AM.
- Metro Line A to Cinecittà stop. About €15.
- Bring water, wear comfortable shoes, and try not to recite Pullo’s lines at the guide. They’ve heard them all.
🌿 Park of the Aqueducts (Parco degli Acquedotti) – Open-Air Grandeur
What was filmed at the Parco degli Acquedotti? Outdoor sequences showing the scale of Roman infrastructure – legions marching, cavalry rides, and sweeping shots of the countryside.
This park features the Aqua Claudia, one of Rome’s four great aqueducts, finished in 52 AD. The show’s directors loved it because the arches look massive without the use of CGI. And it’s free.
You’ve seen this place before – it’s been in La Dolce Vita and countless pasta commercials. But Rome used it to make viewers feel tiny.
Locals use the Parco degli Acquedotti for jogging and picnics. So while you’re pretending to be a Roman centurion, some guy named Marco is just trying to eat his panino.
Book a tour:
- Appian Way Aqueducts Extended E-Bike & Food Adventure
- Rome: Appian Way, Catacombs, & Roman Aqueducts E-bike Tour
Travel tips:
- Metro Line A to Giulio Agricola. Walk 5–10 minutes. Rent a bike for €4–5/hour.
- Visit at golden hour. The arches glow like Instagram filters.
🏛️ Ostia Antica – The Ancient Port That Stood In For… Itself
What was filmed here? Authentic Roman streets, squares, and residential buildings. Basically, any scene where you thought, “Wow, those ruins look real” – they were real.
Ostia Antica is often called “Pompeii without the volcano.” It’s remarkably preserved because it was abandoned and buried by silt, not ash. The show used its warehouses, taverns, and apartment blocks for background shots.
The actors reportedly kept tripping on actual ancient paving stones. Method acting? No, just Rome’s uneven sidewalks.
Book a tour:
- Ostia Antica Tour From Rome
- Ostia Antica Guided Half-Day Trip by Train
- Private Ostia Antica Half-Day Trip w/ Transfer & Tickets
Getting there: Metro Line B to Piramide, then the Roma-Lido train to Ostia Antica. About 45 minutes. Same €1.50 ticket.
🛣️ Appian Way (Via Appia Antica) – The Queen of Roads
What was filmed here? Travel sequences, military processions, and those moody nighttime shots of characters walking along tomb-lined roads.
The Appian Way was Rome’s first superhighway, built in 312 BC. The show used the section with original paving stones – still there after 2,300 years.
Imagine complaining about potholes today. Roman roads were so well-built that you could drive a chariot over them right now. And people do. On Sundays, it’s closed to cars and full of cyclists.
Book a tour:
- Appia Antica: Full-Day Bike Rental
- Appian Way Aqueducts Extended E-Bike & Food Adventure
- Appian Way, Catacombs, & Roman Aqueducts E-bike Tour
🎬 Boyana Film Studios, Sofia, Bulgaria – The Backup Rome
What was filmed here? Secondary unit work, some battle inserts, and crowd scenes when Italy’s soundstages were booked.
Bulgaria was cheaper. Like, much cheaper. HBO saved millions by shipping some production east. The cast joked they could tell which scenes were Bulgarian because the coffee was worse.
The Bulgarian crew reportedly built a “Rome” set so convincing that actors asked if they could take bricks home as souvenirs. (They couldn’t.)
Book a tour:
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❓ Rome Series FAQs
Still wondering where the Senate really sat? We’ve got answers to your burning questions.
How many seasons of Rome are there?
Two seasons. Season 1 (2005) has 12 episodes. Season 2 (2007) has 10 episodes. Total: 22.
Why was Rome cancelled?
💰 Cost. The first season alone cost $100 million. HBO planned five seasons but pulled the plug after two. The creators telescoped seasons 3 and 4 into Season 2’s final episodes.
Is there nudity in Rome?
Yes. HBO being HBO. Expect sex scenes, nude scenes, and enough to make a parents’ guide necessary. Think Game of Thrones but with more togas and fewer dragons.
Who plays Cleopatra in Rome?
Lyndsey Marshal plays Cleopatra. She’s scheming, dramatic, and absolutely unforgettable.
Who plays Octavian?
Max Pirkis as young Octavian (Season 1), then Simon Woods as older, colder Octavian (Season 2).
❓ Roman Empire FAQs
Where was Rome originally located?
On the Tiber River in central Italy, about 15 miles inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Founded (legend says) in 753 BC by Romulus.
Where was the Roman Empire located?
At its peak? Three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. But it all started on that Tiber riverside.
Where was Rome on a map?
Latium region. Modern-day Lazio. Look for the boot’s middle-west coast.
Where was Rome built?
On seven hills: Palatine, Aventine, Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, and Caelian.
Is the Rome set still there?
Partially. Fire damaged it in 2007, but the Forum reconstruction survived. You can tour it today at Cinecittà Studios.
📺 Where to Watch HBO’s Rome
Ready to rewatch Pullo crack skulls and Atia crack wise? Here’s where to stream the whole saga.
- Amazon Prime: Purchase or stream with a Prime Video channel subscription.
- DVD/Blu-ray: Commentary and behind-the-scenes featurettes.
- Other platforms: Max (formerly HBO Max), Apple TV, Hulu.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners, and no copyright infringement is intended.
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