Primary Venice Filming Locations for A Haunting in Venice
The production of A Haunting in Venice used several iconic Venice, Italy, sites for exterior and interior shots. The main filming location was the Palazzo Pisani Moretta, a 15th-century Gothic palace on the Grand Canal, which served as the exterior of the fictional haunted palazzo. Additional street-level scenes were shot along the Rio di San Polo and the surrounding calli, capturing the narrow alleyways and canal reflections that define the city’s atmosphere. The production team secured permits from the Venice City Council and worked with local film commission officials to manage night shoots and preserve the historic structures, as noted by the official Veneto Film Commission portal Venice Film Commission.
Interior scenes set inside the palazzo were filmed at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom, where the production recreated the decaying Venetian interiors on soundstages. The studio’s backlot allowed the crew to build full-scale period rooms, including a detailed staircase modeled after the palazzo’s real interior layout, according to reports from the studio’s official project page Pinewood Studios. This hybrid approach, combining on-location Venice footage with controlled studio sets, was chosen to ensure consistent lighting and safety for the complex night scenes.
Production Companies, Directors, and Key Cast
Production and Distribution Details
A Haunting in Venice was produced by 20th Century Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures under the 20th Century Studios banner. The film was directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also reprised his role as the fictional detective Hercule Poirot, continuing the narrative from the previous adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel Forbes coverage of the franchise. Principal photography began in the United Kingdom in early 2022, with additional location work in Venice following the studio schedule.
Cast and Creative Team
The cast includes Kenneth Branagh, Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, and Jamie Dornan, with cinematography by Haris Zambarloukos and a score by Patrick Doyle. The production design was led by Jim Clay, who recreated the opulent yet decaying Venetian aesthetic using a mix of on-location textures and studio-built sets. The film’s visual effects were handled by companies including Framestore, which worked on the supernatural elements and atmospheric lighting to match the real Venetian exteriors Framestore.
Why Venice Was Chosen and How the Locations Were Selected
Authenticity and Story Requirements
The decision to film in Venice was driven by the source material’s setting and the need for a location that could convey both grandeur and decay. The production team selected Palazzo Pisani Moretta because of its authentic Gothic façade, water-level access, and proximity to key Venetian landmarks, allowing the crew to shoot multiple angles without extensive travel. The palazzo’s real interior staircase and canal-facing rooms provided a practical base for the cinematography, reducing the need for extensive digital set extensions.
Logistics and Local Support
Venice’s unique logistics, including water-based transportation and restricted vehicle access, shaped the filming schedule and equipment choices. The crew used electric boats and lightweight rigging to move cameras along the canals, minimizing disruption to the city’s narrow streets and historic buildings. Local crew members and technical support