In Season 5, Emily’s adventures take her far beyond the familiar Parisian streets we’ve come to adore. After setting up Agence Grateau’s new Rome office, she dives headfirst into Roman architecture, medieval Italian charm, and later, the canals of Venice – only to circle back to Paris for closing scenes that remind us why the show started there in the first place.
Whether you’re mapping out your next European escape or just love spotting real-world locales from your favourite bingeworthy television series, here are some of the must-visit places that appeared on screen in Emily in Paris Season 5.
1. Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana (Square Colosseum)
This jaw-dropping neoclassical building is impossible to miss and serves as the backdrop for Emily and the team courting Italian fashion clients. The architectural icon was designed in 1938 and is situated within the Esposizione Universale Roma (EUR) district in Rome. Today, it serves as the headquarters of the fashion house Fendi.
2. Mercati di Traiano
Known as the world’s first shopping mall and built between the years 100 and 120 AD, this ancient complex doubles as a scenic stop on Emily and Marcello’s Roman wanderings. It’s also called the Trajan’s Market and is located on the Via dei Fori Imperiali, at the opposite end to the Colosseum.
3. Ostia Antica
The charming village where Marcello’s family lives (known as fictional Solitano), and where Emily experiences Italian countryside chic, was filmed in the ancient port town of Ostia Antica, which isn’t far from Rome. What’s left now are ancient ruins, which were once a commercial hub and naval base. In fact, it’s a great day trip alternative from Rome instead of going to Pompeii.
4. Villa Parisi
Located in Frascati just outside Rome, Princess Jane throws a party at Villa Parisi to help Sylvie land more clients. Surrounded by manicured gardens and sweeping countryside views, the historic villa captures the slower, romantic rhythm of Italian life that Emily begins to lean into, sans Rome’s urban buzz. Its classical architecture has also been a fitting backdrop for several films and events.
5. La Posta Vecchia
La Posta Vecchia was the setting for the launch party for Bavazza’s espressotini, where Mindy started her musical number in a speedboat and ended in a giant cocktail glass. Once built atop the ruins of a Roman villa believed to belong to Emperor Nero, the hotel brings a distinctly old-world, cinematic elegance to the season, offering a striking contrast to the city’s energy.
6. Teatro dell’Opera di Roma
Mindy delivers her show-stopping performance for Ballando, Ballando, Ballando at Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. The neo-Renaissance opera house, inaugurated in 1880 with Rossini’s Semiramide, has long been a centerpiece of Rome’s cultural scene, hosting legends like Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti. Its ornate interiors and historic stage provide a glamorous, cinematic backdrop for Mindy’s dance debut.
7. The Grand Canal of Venice
Venice’s Grand Canal provides the perfect backdrop for one of Emily’s most memorable scenes. As she glides along the city’s largest waterway by gondola, the iconic canal – linking Santa Lucia station to the heart of San Marco with sights like St. Mark’s Basilica and the Bridge of Sighs – showcases Venice’s unmistakable charm and elegance, turning her Italian adventure into a truly cinematic moment.
8. Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo
Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo is one of Venice’s largest and most historic squares. Emily and the team walk through the square during a stylish outdoor shoot, surrounded by the striking Gothic façades of the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo. The square’s dramatic architecture adds a distinctly Venetian elegance, highlighting both the city’s rich history and Emily’s fashion-forward escapades.
9. Notre-Dame Cathedral
Back in Paris, Notre-Dame Cathedral appears briefly during a transitional moment, with Emily moving through the Left Bank as the cathedral rises in the background. Filmed from the surrounding streets and along the Seine, the scene serves as a visual anchor to the city, marking a pause between her time in Italy and her return to Parisian life.
10. Fondation Louis Vuitton
Sylvie speaks on “The Future of Luxury” panel at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, where Marcello also reveals that he’s left his family’s company and is launching his own luxury brand. Set inside and around the Frank Gehry-designed building in the Bois de Boulogne, the scene unfolds during a professional meeting or event, placing Emily back in a distinctly modern Paris setting without leaning into nostalgia.
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