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Both ‘Moonraker’ and ‘Casino Royale’ were filmed in Venice (“Moonraker” in Venice‘Casino Royale’ in Venice). The most spectacular location common to both films is the St Mark’s Square.

St. Mark's square in Venice, Italy
– St. Mark’s square in Venice.

‘Moonraker’ was filmed mostly in northeastern part of the square. Bond (Roger Moore) entered the Venini shop located at Piazzetta dei Leoncini, next to St Mark’s Basilica and the corner of St Mark’s Square. Real Venini shop was there until 2020. Unfortunately it was closed because of lack of customers during lockdown. It was replaced with Giobagnara shop.

Venini shop at Piazzetta dei Leoncini in Venice, Italy
– Venini shop at Piazzetta dei Leoncini in Venice in 2019.
Giobagnara shop at Piazzetta dei Leoncini in Venice, Italy
– Giobagnara shop at Piazzetta dei Leoncini in Venice, Italy in 2023.

There is a clock tower called Torre dell’Orologio next to the shop . Bond finished the fight with the villain Chang (Toshiro Suga) by throwing him through the clock face and onto the piano standing under the tower.

Torre dell'Orologio at St. Mark's square in Venice, Italy

Torre dell'Orologio at St. Mark's square in Venice, Italy

Later in the film, at the end of the chase through the canals in Venice, Bond returned to the square in a gondola. Below is a video showing the behind-the-scenes of this scene.

Walking along the north side of the square you will get to the passage called Sotoportego del Cavalletto. It was filming location of the scene with James Bond (Daniel Craig) noticing Vesper (Eva Green) walking away with suitcase full of money in ‘Casino Royale’.

Sotoportego del Cavalletto at St. Mark's square in Venice, Italy

A few steps away in the eastern corner of the square you will get to Longchamp shop. It was Basel Bank in ‘Casino Royale’.

Longchamp shop at St. Mark's square in Venice, Italy

Through the window you can see interior of the shop that was designed as a bank lobby just for the film.

Longchamp shop at St. Mark's square in Venice, Italy

Standing there you would notice that James Bond didn’t take the shortest route from the hotel to the bank. He ran into the square from its southern corner (right side of the photo below). Later the camera was directed towards St Mark’s Basilica as in the photo below. 007 was running from left (eastern corner) to the right (southern corner).

St Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy

Finally he came to the Basel Bank located in the corner on the left (eastern corner).

Longchamp shop at St. Mark's square in Venice, Italy

Go to LOCATIONS GALLERY – ‘MOONRAKER’ and LOCATIONS GALLERY – ‘CASINO ROYALE’ to see locations photos compared with movie scenes.