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.
‘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 in 2019.
– 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.
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’.
A few steps away in the eastern corner of the square you will get to Longchamp shop. It was Basel Bank in ‘Casino Royale’.
Through the window you can see interior of the shop that was designed as a bank lobby just for the film.
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).
Finally he came to the Basel Bank located in the corner on the left (eastern corner).
James Bond returned to Venice in 1978 in ‘Moonraker’ (15 years after ‘From Russia with Love’). 007 played by Roger Moore arrived by gondola to St. Mark’s Square.
– Gondolas moored at St. Mark’s Square.
– Gondolas moored at St. Mark’s Square.
He entered the museum-lobby of the Venini Glass Works that belonged to his main opponent – Hugo Drax. The scene was filmed in real Venini shop located at Piazzetta dei Leoncini next to Saint Mark’s Basilica.
– St Mark’s Square. Piazzetta dei Leoncini in the middle of the picture.
The interior of glass museum was shot at Boulogne Studios in France, in a building that had been a Luftwaffe factory during World War II. The lady at the entrance was played by Irka Bochenko. You can read an interview with her in INTERVIEWS section: Interview with Irka Bochenko, who has played in ‘Moonraker’ with Roger Moore.
Venini shop was located at Piazzetta dei Leoncini until 2020. It was closed because of lack of customers during lockdown. It was replaced with Giobagnara shop.
– Venini shop at Piazzetta dei Leoncini in Venice in 2019.
– Giobagnara shop at Piazzetta dei Leoncini in Venice, Italy in 2023.
Bond noticed Dr. Goodhead (Lois Chiles), space specialist working for Drax and followed her. They left the museum with rear exit. That scene was filmed in the courtyard of Conservatorio di musica Benedetto Marcello. Dr. Goodhed appeared in the door on the right side of the photo presented below and walked towards the place from which the picture was taken.
– Courtyard of Conservatorio di musica Benedetto Marcello.
Next picture looks similar to the film shot. James Bond was standing behind the column and looking at Dr. Goodhead walking to the stairwell. The stairwell is clearly visible in next pictures taken from another side. It is worth noticing that the same courtyard was used as location in ‘Casino Royale’.
– Courtyard of Conservatorio di musica Benedetto Marcello.
In the next scene James Bond pretended that he accidentally met Dr. Holly Goodhead. It was filmed at La Scuola nuova della Misericordia. After short conversation with Dr. Goodhead Bond jumped into the gondola.
Chase sequence ended when James Bond arrived at St. Mark’s Square and converted the gondola into a land-capable hovercraft. The sequence with gondola leaving the water (see filming location in photos below) had to be repeated six times because the vehicle was not stable and Roger Moore was falling into water.
James Bond in the gondola converted into the hoovercraft was riding next to the Doge’s Palace (photo below) and then on St. Mark’s Square (next photos). Specially designed gondola with Ford chassis had a horn to worn surprised tourists. St. Mark’s Square could not be entirely closed so there was a lot of unaware people among actors and extras.
At night James Bond returned to the glass factory dressed as a gondolier. The scene was filmed at the Ponte dell’Accademia bridge with Santa Maria della Salute basilica in background. The place where 007 arrived in gondola is visible on the left side of the picture below).
He opened a padlock with a skeleton key and entered the courtyard that he visited earlier when he was following Dr. Goodhead. The passage between the Canal Grande and the courtyard of Conservatorio di musica Benedetto Marcello really exists. In picture below the sunlight brightens the place where Roger Moore was standing with the skeleton key. The passage to the Canal Grande is on the right from that place.
– Courtyard of Conservatorio di musica Benedetto Marcello.
Next picture was taken from James Bond’s perspective. There is an entrance to the staircase visible on the right. He walked there a few seconds later. Dr. Holly Goodhead entered the same entrance after she left the glass museum.
Next two pictures were taken from the other side of the fence. There is an entrance to the staircase mentioned before on the right side of the second photo.
After visiting the laboratory and stealing a sample of deadly fluid, James Bond emerged from the stairwell (on the left in photo below). He was attacked between columns by Chang.
Next picture was taken from courtyard side. James Bond and Chang were fighting and slowly moving behind columns from right to left. 007 throwed his opponent against the wall and they both fell into the room full of glass through the door on the left. In the next scene they used the largest amount of breakaway sugar glass ever.
– Courtyard of Conservatorio di musica Benedetto Marcello.
Meanwhile Dr. Holly Goodhead was relaxing in Hotel Danieli. James Bond joined her soon in her apartment. There was a flood during filming, so the film crew had to stop working several times to move power generators to upper floors.
– Hotel Danieli (second building from right).
– Hotel Danieli.
James Bond will be back in Venice 28 years later in ‘Casino Royale’ with Daniel Craig as 007 – read the story: ‘Casino Royale’ in Venice.
JAMES BOND 