Sisters in Italy Filming Locations: Tyler Perry Brings Hollywood to Monterosso
A few weeks ago, I was walking through Monterosso al Mare — the northernmost village of Italy’s famous Cinque Terre — when I saw something you don’t normally associate with quiet Ligurian coastal towns: giant lighting rigs, cameras, trailers, and a familiar face or two. Tyler Perry was in town, directing a new romantic comedy for Amazon Studios: Sisters in Italy.
At the time, no one seemed to know much about it. But now the first details are out — and if you’re a movie fan or just someone who loves Cinque Terre like I do, you’ll want to know where and how they turned Monterosso into a film set.
👉 Jump to the filming locations
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🎥 What’s Sisters in Italy About?
Sisters in Italy follows two estranged sisters who, after their mother’s death, find themselves unexpectedly summoned to Italy. Turns out, their mother secretly owned a small bed and breakfast tucked into the Italian countryside. The sisters must decide whether to keep the property — but not before completing a series of tasks their mother left behind, designed to reconnect them and teach them how to actually live.
Tika Sumpter co-wrote the script and stars, with Tyler Perry directing. The cast also includes Whoopi Goldberg, Ernie Hudson, Bresha Webb, Giulio Berruti, and several others.
📍 Planning to stay in Monterosso al Mare? I stayed here during my trip and absolutely recommend it. It’s walking distance to everything — including a few of the streets that were turned into movie sets.
📍 Where Was Sisters in Italy Filmed? (Confirmed Locations)
Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre, Liguria
The main Sisters in Italy filming location is Monterosso al Mare, part of Italy’s stunning Cinque Terre coastline. For about three days, Monterosso transformed from a sleepy seaside town into a full-on international film set.
Here’s what I saw — and what you can expect to spot when the movie is released:
The Hills Above Town: The green terraces above Monterosso (famous for growing lemons and vines) are rumored to have been used for a few landscape shots. Expect some serious visual love letters to the Ligurian coastline.
The Old Town Streets: Narrow, pastel-colored alleys and piazzas became backdrops for key scenes. If you’ve ever wandered Monterosso’s historic center — near Piazza Garibaldi just under the train tracks.
Beachfront Promenade (Passeggiata Fegina): Parts of the iconic seaside promenade were cordoned off with production trucks and camera crews. I saw rigs set up near the statue of the Giant (“Il Gigante”) and the main beach, so it’s a safe bet we’ll see some scenes with the Mediterranean Sea in full view.
Local Cafés and Gelato Shops: Some scenes were filmed inside real businesses along the promenade — a smart move to capture the everyday life of Monterosso without needing big set builds.
📝 Why Monterosso?
Unlike tourist-overrun spots like Portofino or Positano, Monterosso still feels relatively down-to-earth — at least by Italian Riviera standards. It makes sense that a story about reconnecting with family would pick somewhere that feels lived in, not staged for tourists.
Plus, Monterosso’s combination of colorful houses, sweeping beaches, and rugged cliffs gives it an almost cinematic natural beauty…without looking like a movie set.
✈️ Will There Be More Sisters in Italy Filming Locations?
So far, Monterosso is the only officially confirmed location. But based on the film’s plot — involving an inherited countryside B&B — I wouldn’t be surprised if they shot additional scenes in Tuscany or Liguria’s inland villages. Think olive groves, rolling hills, and maybe an abandoned villa or two.
If I hear about more locations, I’ll update this post — so you can plan your own movie-inspired Italian adventure before the crowds show up.So far, Monterosso is the only officially confirmed location. But based on the film’s plot — involving an inherited countryside B&B — I wouldn’t be surprised if they shot additional scenes in Tuscany or Liguria’s inland villages. Think olive groves, rolling hills, and maybe an abandoned villa or two.
If I hear about more locations, I’ll update this post — so you can plan your own movie-inspired Italian adventure before the crowds show up.
🎬 Final Thoughts
Seeing a full-scale Hollywood production descend on a small Italian town was surreal. But it also made me realize just how much Italian daily life already feels cinematic. No fancy sets required.
If you’re planning a trip to Cinque Terre soon, keep an eye out: you might just walk the same streets where Tika Sumpter and Whoopi Goldberg filmed. And if you’re a movie buff scouting future travel plans, Monterosso deserves a spot high on your list — long before Sisters in Italy puts it on everyone else’s radar.