Papa Giovanni: Ioannes XXIII Filming Locations

Plovdiv is an ancient city built around 7 hills, in southern Bulgaria. The Regional Archaeological Museum chronicles the city’s history, with exhibits including mosaic panels, clay lamps and early coins. The Roman-era Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis, which once seated around 6,000, now hosts opera and concerts. A 3D movie at the Emperor Hadrian–era Ancient Stadium re-creates Plovdiv in the 2nd century A.D.

Rome is the capital city of Italy. It is also the capital of the Lazio region, the centre of the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, and a special comune named Comune di Roma Capitale.

Sofia is the capital of the Balkan nation of Bulgaria. It’s in the west of the country, below Vitosha Mountain. The city’s landmarks reflect more than 2,000 years of history, including Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Soviet occupation. Medieval Boyana Church has 13th-century frescoes. Built by the Romans in the 4th century, St. George Rotunda Church has medieval and Ottoman decoration dating to the 10th century.

Sotto il Monte, officially Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII, is a comune in northern Italy. Located in the Province of Bergamo in the Region of Lombardy, the town's official name, much like that of Riese Pio X, commemorates the town's most famous son: Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, who later became Pope John XXIII.

Vatican City, a city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy, is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. It's home to the Pope and a trove of iconic art and architecture. Its Vatican Museums house ancient Roman sculptures such as the famed “Laocoön and His Sons” as well as Renaissance frescoes in the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling.

Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs.

Viterbo is a city in central Italy. The Palazzo dei Papi, a palace with an elegant loggia, was the seat of the popes in the 13th century. Nearby is San Lorenzo Cathedral, with a Gothic bell tower, frescoes and a 15th-century baptismal font. The Colle del Duomo Museum houses archaeological artifacts and a sacred art collection. The frescoed Palazzo dei Priori, Viterbo’s city hall, is on Piazza del Plebiscito.