Where in the World?

Bright sun, sea and the promise of general leisure draw tourists to this European isle. Film directors — including two in the 1990s — have also discovered its charms. Can you name this telegenic town and the films in which it stars? Answers after the jump…

A: Procida, star of ‘Il Postino,’ (1994) and ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ (1999).

Just off the western coast of Italy in the Tyrrhenian Sea, the volcanic isle of Procida and its neighbor Ischia transformed into the picture-perfect — and 100% fictional — village Mongibello, where Tom Ripley first tracks down Dickie Greenleaf in ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley.’ It’s also the place where exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda gets his mail in Michael Radford’s  ‘Il Postino.’ 

After mailing a postcard of your own, retire to Bar La Taverna del Postino, the place where Mario Ruoppolo romances barmaid Beatrice. You’ll find it in the town of Marina di Corricella on the island’s northern coast. Want to find the beaches from the film — just find a local and ask for “Postino beach.”

To find out more about Procida and its love affair with film visit Procida.net.
 

All photos © Akira Chiba