Hotel Portofino is a British period drama series made by Matt Baker. It tells the story of a British family in the 1920s who run a fancy hotel in an Italian town while fascism grows in Italy.
Season 1 first aired on BritBox in the UK on January 27, 2022, and on Sky Italia on February 28, 2022. The show stars Natascha McElhone, Mark Umbers, and Anna Chancellor. The beautiful filming locations were chosen from Croatia and Italy for both the first and second seasons.
Where were Hotel Portofino Filmed?
Main Filming Location: Rijeka, Croatia
Rijeka was used as the main location for the hotel and surrounding areas. Many scenes of streets and hotel exteriors were shot here to capture the classic Italian look of the 1920s.
Other Filming Locations in Croatia
Image gallery (Image Credit: PBS)
- Lovran, Croatia: Villa Magnolia in Lovran was used for many inside and outside shots of Hotel Portofino, as the villa’s look fits the time period. It is a 3-star hotel whose Address is Ul. Viktora cara Emina 3, 51415, Lovran, Croatia.
- Rovinj, Croatia: Rovinj provided a lovely seaside background, perfect for capturing the Italian Riviera.
- Opatija, Croatia: Opatija’s historic buildings and casinos were used for some high-society scenes, adding glamour to the series. Opatija, a charming coastal town on the Adriatic Sea, is known for its elegant villas, beautiful parks, and stunning views of the Kvarner Gulf.
- Bale, Istria, Croatia: Village scenes were filmed here to show the rural Italian setting.
- Hrvatski institut za povijest: Lucian leaving, London street exterior Scenes featured in this series was recorded around Hrvatski institut za povijest.
- Zagreb, Croatia: Zagreb locations like Hrvatski Državni Arhiv and Park Zrinjevac were used to show Italian government buildings and parks. They also recreated the Portofino train station here.
Hrvatski drzavni arhiv, Zagreb, Croatia
Address: Trg Marka Marulića 21, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
The scenes of the Post office, library, Genova, interior and Nish aims to strike a blow against Mussolini’s Fascists, Turin, building exterior was actually captured around Hrvatski drzavni arhiv, Zagreb, Croatia. It is a State archive in Zagreb, Croatia.
Umjetnicki paviljon, Trg kralja Tomislava 22, Zagreb, Croatia
Address: Trg Kralja Tomislava 22, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
Portofino train station, exterior scenes shown in movie was filmed around Umjetnicki pavilion. The Art Pavilion in Zagreb is a special place where artists show their amazing work. It’s like a big museum, but only for art! You can find it in Zagreb, Croatia.
This art museum is located in a beautiful spot called King Tomislav’s Square. It’s a really cool area with lots of interesting things to see. So, if you ever visit Zagreb, don’t forget to check out the Art Pavilion and see some wonderful art!
Casino Rosalia, Ul. Ive Kaline 9, 51410, Opatija, Croatia
Casino Rosalia is another chosen location for Hotel Portofino. You can see the scenes around Casino Rosalia in this series. Casino Rosalia is a famous place in Opatija, Croatia. It’s located on Ive Kaline Street, number 9, and is a popular spot for people to have fun and enjoy themselves.
Museum of Arts and Crafts, Trg Republike Hrvatske 10, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
Some important sequences of this series was also recorded around Museum of Arts and Crafts. The Museum of Arts and Crafts is a special place in Zagreb, Croatia.
This museum was started way back in 1880 by a group of people who loved art. They wanted to share these amazing creations with everyone. You can find the museum at Trg Republike Hrvatske 10, in Zagreb.
Hrvatska akademija znanosti i umjetnosti-HAZU, Trg Nikole subica Zrinskog 11, Zagreb, Croatia
Hrvatska akademija znanosti i umjetnosti-HAZU is also another location for Organization in Zagreb, Croatia. It is an Organization in Zagreb, Croatia. The Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, also called HAZU, is Croatia’s main science and art institution. It was started in 1866 by Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Zagreb to support learning and culture for South Slavic people.
Other Locations in Croatia include:-
- Matulji, Croatia
- Pula, Istria, Croatia
- Kostrena, Croatia
- Groznjan, Croatia
You can see scenes from all these places in the background of the series.
Portofino, Genoa, Liguria, Italy
Only a few scenes were filmed in Portofino, Italy, to add authenticity. Most of the scenes were recreated in Croatia to save on costs. Portofino, located in the Liguria region of Italy near Genoa, is a charming coastal village known for its colorful buildings and beautiful harbor. This popular tourist spot is famous for its scenic views and luxury yachts.
When Did the Filming of Hotel Portofino Take Place?
The first season was filmed in 2021, with Croatia as the main setting. The second season’s filming began in July 2022, involving over 135 Croatian crew members and more than 800 extras.
Hotel Portofino Behind The Scenes
Mark Umbers, who played the role of Cecil Ainsworth, featured in behind the scene video on The official YouTube channel of PBS, as you can see below:-
The team worked with Croatian crews to recreate Italy in the 1920s. The series was the biggest TV production in Croatia in 2022. Each location was carefully chosen to reflect the luxurious and dramatic tone of the show.
