Dario Argento movie locations: Turin Break
A whistle-stop tour of 25 of the top Turin locations featured in horror and thriller maestro Dario Argento’s films.
While Italian director Dario Argento is typically associated with capital city Rome - in no small part due to the location of his shop Profondo Rosso - it’s the Piedmont capital city Turin (Torino) where he has filmed (or partially filmed) many of his movies. It would take days to visit every set-up from the movies, so instead I’ve focused on the most accessible and recognisable that you could cover off in a day.
To save doubling back or unnecessary diversions I’ve grouped the locations into three regions - West of Centre, Main Centre, East of River. I've also listed the locations in ascending postcode order, again to help with grouping locations.
And while I've tried to avoid any big spoilers, it would be best to watch the movies first before reading further. Enjoy, and beware of mysterious strangers in black gloves!
West of Centre
1. Movie Location: Terzi Institute Research Centre and Franco Arno’s apartment: The Cat o’Nine Tails / Il Gatto a Novo Code (1971)
Actual Location: 12 and 17 Via Vincenzo Vela, 10128
You can follow in Franco Arno’s (Karl Malden) footsteps as he walks along the road with his white cane and young helper. It’s here that he gets her to check who’s in the car outside of the Terzi Institute - this being the rear of the GAM art gallery - as well as bumping into photographer Carlo Giordani (James Franciscus). Little has changed since the early 70s and you can even match up certain slabs in the stone wall due to their imperfections. As a bonus, you’re only a hundred metres away from two important properties from Do You Like Hitchcock? on the same road.
2. Movie Location: Guilio’s Apartment and Sasha’s Apartment: Do You Like Hitchcock? (2005)
Actual Location: 27 and 24 Via Vincenzo Vela, 10128
In Argento’s TV movie, the hero Giulio (Elio Germano) lives opposite Sasha (Elisabetta Rocchetti), on whom he spies with his binoculars. Both properties remain, though the beautiful external elevator at 24 is no longer there. There’s multiple shots of both buildings throughout the movie, including the elaborate detailing and Roman statue head near Giulio’s rear window. You can also see the entry to 27, which is frequently used in the film, and the best bit is that you’re less than five minutes’ walk from The Cat o’Nine Tails’ Terzi Institute, which is on the same road.
3. Movie Location: Killer’s house: Sleepless / Non Ho Sonno (2001)
Actual Location: 7 Corso Generale Giuseppe Govone, 10129
This building block with distinctive balconies and turret top features at the start of the movie in the flashback to the murder, and then again when Moretti (Max Von Sydow) and Giacomo (Stefano Dionisi) visit it in present day. Little has changed, and you can even walk over to where the duo talk by the car.
4. Movie Location: Killer’s house: Four Flies on Grey Velvet/ 4 Mosche di Velluto Grigio (1971)
Actual Location : 45 Via Giacinto Collegno, 10138
There’s a mysterious building in the movie on the corner of Via Duchessa Jolanda and Via Giacinto Collegno. Later, private eye Arossio visits by entering through the distinctive door at 45 Via Giacinto Collegno.
Main Centre
5. Movie location: Helga’s murder: Deep Red / Profondo Rosso (1975)
Actual Location: Piazza CLN, 10121
Another instantly recognisable location, serving not only as the spot where Marcus Daly (David Hemmings) meets up with drunken friend Carlo (Gabriele Lavia) by the fountain with the reclining statue of Po, but also where Daly witnesses the murder of psychic medium Helga Ulmann (Macha Méril) up at a window. Little has changed since 1975 and you can follow Daly’s movement from the statue, to the window, to the door he enters to try and save her. The Piazza del Comitato di Liberazione Nazionale is named in tribute to a resistance organization to fascism, though originally this 1937 site housed the HQ of the Gestapo. It contains two fountains by statues sculptor Umberto Baglioni (1937). At the time of my visit in summer 2020 there was an installation on site celebrating the movie, one of 20 across the city, marking Turin as 2020 City of Cinema. As a bonus, just across the square is the underground car park in Four Flies on Blue Velvet.
6. Movie Location: Underground Car Park Four Flies on Grey Velvet/ 4 Mosche di Velluto Grigio (1971)
Actual Location: Junction of Via Secondo Frola and Via XX Settembre
Just a short walk across from the Deep Red location in Piazza CLN is the entrance to the underground car park as featured prominently and to comedic effect in the car chase between the police and Carlo/Anna.
7. Movie location: Shopping Centre: Deep Red / Profondo Rosso (1975) and Giallo (2009)
Actual Location: Galleria San Federico, 10121
It’s two for the price of one with this beautiful shopping centre, featuring not only where Daly and Carlo take a stroll in Deep Red, but also where the killer Yellow finds himself in Giallo. You’ll also spot it from movie classic The Italian Job as one of the shopping centres that the Minis drive through. It’s a beautiful 1933 glass-domed building, housing the lovely Lux Cinema and many high-end shops.
8. Movie Location: Train Station: The Cat of Nine Tails / Il Gatto a Novo Code (1971)
Actual Location: Platform 17, Torino Porta Nuova, 58 Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 10121
Visit Platform 17 of Turin’s main train station and sadly you’ll no longer spot the same clocks (showing as 5:10pm in the movie) where Calabrese (Carlo Alighiero) is waiting for train. However, you can match the buildings and roof in this 1861 station, which is the third busiest in Italy for passenger flow. Beware that ticket inspectors might frown upon you if you don’t have a valid ticket, and in the modern state of emergency it’s probably best to not linger too long suspiciously taking photos of railway platforms.
9. Movie Location: Giordani’s apartment: The Cat of Nine Tails / Il Gatto a Novo Code (1971)
Actual Location: 2 Via Alessandro Vittorio Papacino, 10121
We only get to see the door of Carlo Giordani’s (James Franciscus) apartment in the movie, which is a shame, because it’s a beautiful house. It’s just off the main road Corso Galileo Ferraris, and a few minutes from Mastio della Citadella, which featured briefly in Giallo, and Giardino Lamarmora from the opening of Four Flies on Grey Velvet.
10. Movie Location: Righetto’s apartment : The Cat o’Nine Tails / Il Gatto a Novo Code (1971)
Actual Location: 15 Via Santa Teresa, 10121
There’s a moment when photographer Carlo parks up outside photographer Righetto’s (Vittorio Congia) office/apartment, leaving Arno in the car. This is in a small square off the road, framed by concrete arches. It’s very recognisable.
11. Movie location: Bath house (Exterior): Mother of Tears / La Terza Madre (2007)
Actual Location: Istituti Superiori Femminili Magistrale, 10121
Istituti Superiori Femminili is on the main Corso Galileo Ferraris road which runs into the city. We get a brief exterior of the building, presumably the shower room interiors were shot elsewhere, as this is a female learning institute.
12. Movie Location: Park: Four Flies on Grey Velvet/ 4 Mosche di Velluto Grigio (1971)
Actual Location: Giardini La Marmora, Via Stampatori, 10122
This small park appears in a scene at the start of the movie when Roberto is drumming and recalls a time in the park when he returned a football to a child and spotted a moustachioed man in dark sunglasses, hat and suit, following him. The stranger grabs a child who has blown confetti over him. It’s located between Via degli Stampatori and Via Cernaia.
13. Movie Location: Shopping arcade: Four Flies on Grey Velvet/ 4 Mosche di Velluto Grigio (1971)
Actual Location: Galleria Umberto I, 10122
Another scene from the start of the movie where Roberto is following the man in black, and has confetti thrown at a him by a revelling woman. The arcade is in the centre of the old city, between the City Hall and Piazza della Repubblica market. From 1575 to 1887 it was a hospital, but in 1890 it was turned into a shopping mall and renamed in honour of King Umberto I of Savoy.
14. Movie Location: Gianni Arossio’s office: Four Flies on Grey Velvet/ 4 Mosche di Velluto Grigio (1971)
Actual Location: Galleria Subalpina, 10123
Remember the scene when we visit Private Investigator Gianni Arossio’s office at the top of some stairs? It’s in the gorgeous Renaissance Revival Galleria Subalpina, a collection of antique shops and pricy cafes. His plaque on the wall has now been replaced by a company specialising in musicals and discographies. Leave the galleria and walk for about a minute and you’ll reach the bar at Caffe Mulassano.
15. Movie Location: Bar: Four Flies on Grey Velvet/ 4 Mosche di Velluto Grigio (1971)
Actual Location: Caffe Mulassano, 15 Piazza Castello, 10123
When Arossio and Roberto stop off for a drink they visit the beautiful Caffe Mulassano, which really hasn’t changed since filming in 1971. The wood panelling and lighting are exquisite. It’s an ideal place for a drink and aperitivo. The owner kindly allowed photographs at the bar.
16. Movie location: Concert building: Four Flies on Grey Velvet/ 4 Mosche di Velluto Grigio (1971) and Giallo (2009)
Actual Location: Conservatorio Statale do Musica Giuseppe Verdi, 11 Via Giuseppe Mazzini, Piazza Bodonni, 10123
This is another two for one, with two Argento movies filmed here. Roberto follows the stranger (Carlo Morossi - Calisto Calisti) at night into the state music conservatory in Four Flies. It’s also in the when Avolfi and Linda visit as part of their investigations in Giallo. It was closed when I visited but you can get a good external shot.
17. Movie location: Rehearsal Space exterior: Four Flies on Grey Velvet/ 4 Mosche di Velluto Grigio (1971)
Actual Location: RAI Auditorium, 15 Via Gioacchini Rossini, 10124
After his band rehearsal where he’s pestered by a fly, Roberto Tobias (Michael Brandon) leaves the building and spots a mysterious character lurking in the shadows. Filmed at the entrance to the auditorium for the RAI National Symphony Orchestra, you can still spot the same doors that he emerged from before pursuing the villain. You can also match up the low angle shot of looking up the street by the discarded cigarette butt. The National Cinema Museum is also worth a visit and a few minutes’ walk away at the Mole Antonelliana.
18. Movie Location: Bookshop: Mother of Tears / La Terza Madre (2007)
Actual Location: La Bussola, 9 Via Po, 10124
Via Po is an absolute haven for book lovers, and La Bussola is one of those shops you could spends hours in, browsing. It’s where Sarah Mandy (Asia Argento) hides from the police and wishes herself invisible.
19. Movie Location: Killer’s Lair (Wide): Sleepless / Non Ho Sonno (2001)
Actual Location: 37 Via Federico Campana, 10125
Villa de Fabriti's second location is a private, gated house, which unfortunately from the street hides most of the recognisable features. In the movie, Moretti and Giacomo are inside the back garden, which has a high wall. When you look from across the street you can just make out the shape of the distinctive arched window. You may be better visiting this in winter when most of the foliage has died back.
East of the River
20. Movie Location: House of the Screaming Child: Deep Red / Profondo Rosso (1975)
Actual Location: Scott Villa, Corso Giovanni Lanza 57, 10131
Has there ever been a more iconic location in a giallo than this? The home of the killer as visited by Marcus Daly (David Hemmings). The beautiful 1902 villa by Pietro Fenogio with Art Nouveau flourishes is a private property, so you can’t go in and scratch away the plaster or try to knock holes in the wall to locate a secret room, but there’s lots to see and photograph from the road outside, and the gates are mercifully not enclosed, meaning you can peer through. Many of the trees and bushes are a lot more overgrown now than in the movie, possibly to keep tourists away, so a visit in winter when trees are more bare might reveal more. And while visiting, don’t miss the hairpin bend at the end of the road that Marcus drives up.
21. Movie Location: Moretti’s Home: Sleepless / Non Ho Sonno (2001)
Actual Location: Via Sommacampagna 17, 10131
22. Movie Location: Killer’s Lair (Wide): Sleepless / Non Ho Sonno (2001)
Actual Location: 9 Strada alla Villa Quiete, 10131
Villa de Fabritiis is a bit of a trick, as it’s a combination of two external locations. When they walk down the street towards it, Moretti and Giacomo are approaching Strada alla Villa Quiete 10, but when we get close up, we’re on the other side of the river at 37 Via Federico Campana. To be honest, there’s not much to see here, but the villas are lovely and you’re close to Villa Scott anyway.
23. Movie Location: Parking Lot: Sleepless / Non Ho Sonno (2001)
Actual Location: Car park behind Chiesa di Gran Madre di Dio, corner of Piazza di Gran Madre di Dio/Via Francesco Lanfranchi and Via Ascanio Vittozzi, 10131
Not the most exciting of locations, but worth stopping at if you’re already visiting major landmark Chiesa di Gran Madre di Dio. After Giacomo and Gloria (Chiara Caselli) leave the morgue they return to their car in this car park and run into the homeless person.
24. Movie Location: Killer’s House: Sleepless / Non Ho Sonno (2001)
Actual Location: 11 Via Luigi Vanvitelli, 10131
This distinctive building with its narrow end is barely recognisable, having been extensively remodelled since the movie was mate. The whole area looks more up market, and gone is the graffiti wall next to it. It’s a few minutes walk from Chiesa di Gran Madre di Dio
25. Movie Location Bianca’s apartment: The Cat o’Nine Tails / Il Gatto a Novo Code (1971)
Actual Location: House of the Basilisk, 2 Piazza Crimea, 10133
Only featured very briefly as a night-time exterior, Bianca Merusi’s (Rada Rassimov) apartment deserves some added attention - it’s a beautiful Neoliberty building completed in 1959 by Sergio Jaretti Sodano and Elio Luz. It’s also just a five minute walk from here to Villa Scott
So that’s it, a selective tour of Argento’s Turin. There’s probably this many again that you could seek out depending on what time you have and where you’re staying. Happy hunting!
A special thanks to Rachael Nisbet, who helped me with missing locations. And to Alan Jones for getting me hooked on Argento in the first place. Grazie!
