Ben-Hur: Filming Locations in Rome and Matera

In the 2016 Ben-Hur, Jerusalem is Matera. The producers chose the southern Italian city to stand in for it, and exterior shooting ran for two months, finishing in early April 2015. The Sassi cave districts are visually reminiscent of ancient sites in and around Jerusalem. In the story, this is where Judah Ben-Hur confronts Messala in their former home, and has to flee when Roman soldiers turn up. The Sassi were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Точность места: The film does not name a single building; the pin marks the Sassi di Matera, which stand in for Jerusalem.

Советы для посещения: The Sassi di Matera are a historic district of the city of Matera.

In the 1959 Ben-Hur, Judah is condemned to the galleys and marched with other prisoners through Nazareth. There he has a brief chance encounter with Jesus, who gives him water. The scene was not shot in the real Nazareth: the mountain village of Arcinazzo Romano, 40 miles from Rome, served as a stand-in for Nazareth. Today Arcinazzo is a small municipality about 50 kilometres east of the capital.

Точность места: The sources name the village but not the exact street used; the pin marks Arcinazzo Romano.

Советы для посещения: Arcinazzo Romano is a small village about 50 kilometres east of Rome.

Most of the 1959 Ben-Hur was built at Cinecittà, identified early on as the primary shooting location, and principal photography began in Rome on 18 May 1958. The sea battle needed a special set: an artificial lake with equipment capable of generating sea-sized waves was built here for the galleys. In the story, Arrius's ship sinks in battle and Judah rescues him. The 2016 remake also moved here after Matera, shooting interiors for four months. Cinecittà is the largest film studio in Europe.

The 2016 race was originally planned for the Circus Maximus in Rome, but producers were denied access by Italy's national cultural authorities. Instead, the race ran in a purpose-built arena called Circus Tiberius, at Cinecittà World. It had a 250 m long and 50 m wide track, but only one-sixth of the arena was physically built; computer graphics added the rest. A total of 20 chariots were used. On screen, Messala's chariot breaks loose and he is trampled, and Ben-Hur wins. The theme park stands on the grounds of the old Dinocittà film studios and opened on 24 July 2014.

Советы для посещения: Cinecittà World is a theme park near Rome; check its opening days before travelling.

Before dying, Messala tells Judah that his mother and sister are alive and in the Valley of the Lepers. In the 1959 film, Miriam and Tirzah later hide in a cave with Esther as a violent storm descends, and when it lifts their leprosy vanishes. Beaches near Anzio were used for filming, and caves just south of the city served as the leper colony.

Точность места: The source names only caves just south of Anzio; the pin marks the town.