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007, Casino Royale, filming location, Italy, James Bond, James Bond location, movie location, travel, Venice
James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) sailed to Venice in Italy. While Vesper was standing at the helm of a yacht, Bond was writing a resignation letter on his laptop. As they were sailing along the Grand Canal, Vesper noticed Adolph Gettler (Richard Sammel), who was the Quantum agent. 007 and the girl stayed in a hotel located at Saint Mark’s Square.
Seen in the film 54 foot yacht named ‘Spirit’, was built by Spirit Yachts Ltd in Suffolk, UK. It was the first sailing yacht to go up the Grand Canal in Venice in 300 years.
When Bond and Vesper were approaching Venice, most famous buildings in the city were seen in background. There was tower of San Giorgio Maggiore on the left, Saint Mark’s campanile on the right and Santa Maria della Salute in the middle (all of them in photos below).
It is not necessary to buy a boat to see the view that was in front of Bond and Vesper. One of the possibilities it to take a Vaporetto to Sant’Elena. Not many tourists go that far, therefore it is a very peacefull an quiet place. As you can see in photos below, while watching the view you can relax on a bench in a park or use outdoor gym.
When James Bond was writing the resignation letter, there was Santa Maria della Salute Basilica visible in background (photo below). On his laptop monitor you could see his e-mail inbox with fictitious email addresses of film crew members: Anne Bennet (Publicity and Marketing) – anne.bennett@thenet.com, Chris McBride (Computer & Video Supervisor) – chris.mcbride@thenet.com, Neil Pinkawa (lead screen graphics artist) and David Hicks (lead motion graphics designer).
When Vesper left the hotel room, M called and asked 007 about the money that he won in Casino Royale. Bond immediately called the Swiss banker and got information that while they were talking someone was withdrawing the money in a bank located at Saint Mark’s Square in Venice. James Bond guessed that it was Vesper who stole the money and ran after her.
The hotel where Bond and Vesper stayed didn’t exist. Scenes in the hotel lobby were filmed at the Czech National Museum in Prague.
Film crew was working in Venice in June 2006. Because of about 400 extras and big number of tourists around it was very difficult to film the scene with Bond running around the Saint Mark’s Square. The bank was located in Saint Mark’s Square corner, from which the photo presented below was taken. In the film you could see ‘Basel Bank’ sign above the door. In reality there was ‘BANCA COMMERCIALE ITALIANA’ sign instead. Read more in: James Bond at St Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy.
James Bond tried to find Vesper under arcades that you can see in photo below. Finally he saw her walking on the bridge located at Sotoportego del Cavalletton street. The entrance to that street from Saint Mark’s Square is located behind fifth arch from the right in photo below.
In the next scene Eva Green who played Vesper was walking alone on Ponte del Malpaga bridge (see photo below). Daniel Craig was looking at her from the bridge connecting Fondamenta Toletta and Calle Lotto from which the photo was taken.
Bond followed Vesper down the Sotoportego de le Colonne. As she passed over the Ponte de le Colonne bridge she looked back, but she couldn’t see 007 who was hidden in the shadows.
In the photo below you can see Sotoportego de le Colonne and the Ponte de le Colonne bridge in background.
Next photo was taken from the bridge towards the shadows where 007 was hidden.
Finally Vesper came to the courtyard where she met Gettler. The villain saw James Bond hiding behind the column and took Vesper hostage. Gettler’s men tried to shoot 007.
The sequence was filmed in the courtyard of Conservatorio di musica Benedetto Marcello, that was also ‘Moonraker’ filming location (read more: ‘Moonraker’ in Venice). Main entrance to the building was located at Campiello Pisani, however Vesper entered the side door, which is visible in the photo below.
She turned left and passed through the doors (that are closed in photo below) to the courtyard.
Next photo was taken from the courtyard. Vesper came out from behind the columns. Later James Bond was hiding behind these columns when Gettler’s men tried to shoot him.
On the right in photo below you can see the column where 007 was hiding when Vesper was talking to Gettler. On the left there is a sculpture that was seen behind Daniel Craig’s head.
Next photo of the courtyard was taken from Bond’s hide behind the column. Vesper and Gettler were standing in the middle of the courtyard. Gettler’s men were shooting from windows above the entrance to the courtyard located in the center of the photo.
When they started shooting, James Bond was running behind columns visible in the middle of the photo below.
James Bond pursued Gettler and Vesper into a building under renovation. During the fight the building started to sink.
The sequence with the building collapsing into the Grand Canal was filmed in Pinewood studio, however buildings around were all real and shot on location. Collapsing building was digitally inserted and replaced Lion Morosini Palace (second from right in photo below).
In the studio the 1/3-scale miniature of the building was built for exterior shots. It had more than 100 different parts designed to fall off.
The inside of the sinking house was built on a special rig that measured 45 foot by 40 foot and was 45 foot high.
The scene with people looking at sinking building was filmed at Campo Erberia (photo below).
After Vesper’s death James Bond was sitting on the yacht’s deck and talking on the phone with M. The scene was filmed at Santi Cosma e Damiano church. Behind 007 the dome of Santa Maria della Salute (in photo below) was visible.
Visit LOCATIONS GALLERY on top of the page to see locations photos compared with movie scenes.
Sources:
– ‘James Bond. Szpieg ktorego kochamy’ Michal Grzesiek, Wydawnictwo Bukowy Las 2011
– www.awn.com
– www.mi6-hq.com
– reelstreets.com
– www.spirityachts.com
JAMES BOND 
What a cool post. I recognized so many locations from the movie. Very neat, thank you!
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Really detailed and interesting- 🙏
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