Movie locations around the world part 8

This is part 8 of my quest for finding movie locations around the world. Left images are from the actual films and to the right are my visits to the spots.

You may also be interested in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 9 and Part 10.

Parts Unknown (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)

Parts Unknown: Chiesa Rupestre di Santa Maria di Idris, Matera

Anthony Bourdain and Asia Argento discussing outside the rock church Chiesa Rupestre di Santa Maria di Idris in Matera, the old city in Italian region Basilicata.

Parts Unknown: Alle Due Corti, Lecce

Anthony Bourdain and Asia Argento singing the Godfather love theme outside restaurant Alle Due Corti in Lecce, located in Puglia on the heel of Italy’s boot geography.

Parts Unknown: Petit Socco, Tangier

Anthony Bourdain sits down for a coffee at Cafe Tingis in Tangier, northern Morocco. The location is the small square of Petit Socco (Souk Dakhli), the old heart of the medina and once the forum of the Romans.

Parts Unknown: Grand Socco, Tangier

Anthony Bourdain walks across Grand Socco with Sherry Nutting, who used to photograph Paul Bowles.

Parts Unknown: Anthony Bourdain at Park Hyatt, Tokyo

The bar at 52nd floor of Park Hyatt in Tokyo is awesome. Apart from Bill Murray in Lost in Translation, Anthony Bourdain also sat in the same chair a few years later.

Parts Unknown: Anthony Bourdain at Abbasi Jame Mosque, Esfahan

In 2014, Bourdain went to Iran. The large Abbasi Jame Mosque in Esfahan features beautiful mosaic tiles and calligraphic inscriptions.

Parts Unknown: Anthony Bourdain at Azadegan Tea House, Esfahan

Hidden in a small alley behind the bazaar is the lovely Azadegan Tea House. All sorts of lamps and things hang from the ceiling.

Parts Unknown: Anthony Bourdain at Imam Square, Esfahan

Bourdain walks across the large Imam Square, which is beautifully illuminated at dusk.

Parts Unknown: Gerard of Csanád Monument, Budapest

Anthony Bourdain did other stuff in Budapest than just sampling the cuisine. He also took the time to walk past the Gerard of Csanád Monument…

Parts Unknown: Gerard of Csanád Monument, Budapest

…gaze at the city silhouette as seen from the Gellért hill…

Parts Unknown: Heroes Square, Budapest

…and visit the Heroes Square.

Parts Unknown: Uffizi Galleries, Florence

In the infamous unfinished Florence episode from 2018, Anthony Bourdain and Asia Argento visit the surprisingly empty Uffizi Galleries.

Parts Unknown: Uffizi Galleries, Florence

Among the many masterpieces, they admire Medusa by Caravaggio. On a normal day, it is of course virtually impossible to have that room all to yourself.

Parts Unknown: Uerige, Düsseldorf

Bourdain sat down for an altbier at historic brewery Uerige in the Altstadt district of Düsseldorf.

No Reservations (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)

No Reservations: Tucson, Arizona

Anthony Bourdain found his way down to the underground control room of Titan Missile Museum, guided by Captain Yvonne Morris. Four years later I sat in the same chair, also talking to Captain Morris.

No Reservations: La Playa, Valparaiso

Anthony Bourdain had a Pisco Sour by the counter at the La Playa bar in Valparaiso, so I had to do the same.

No Reservations: Hotel Sacher, Vienna

Anthony Bourdain went to renowned Hotel Sacher in the capital of Austria, just to mock their famous Sacher-Torte. I have to agree with him, the cake is a bit dry and dull, but it’s still a cozy place.

No Reservations: Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur

In the first season of No Reservations 2005, Bourdain went to Kuala Lumpur and visited Petronas Towers where he walked across the skybridge between the towers.

No Reservations: Ryōan-ji, Kyoto

Bourdain went to Japan in 2007 and visited the Ryōan-ji in Kyoto, a tranquil zen garden from the 15th century.

No Reservations: Il Calice, Bologna

Bourdain visited Emilia-Romagna with chef Michael White, and sat down for a “man-sized Negroni” at Il Calice in the old district Quadrilatero of Bologna.

No Reservations: Katz’s Delicatessen, New York

Of course the New Yorker Bourdain has been at Katz’s several times…

No Reservations: Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn

…and roamed along the streets of Brooklyn.

No Reservations: Rogacki, Berlin

In 2008, Bourdain was eating his way around Berlin. He went to Rogacki, the renowned deli from 1928, to sample blutvurst and other hearty stuff.

No Reservations: Soviet War Memorial, Berlin

He continued to the Soviet War Memorial, while getting some trivia about the construction materials.

No Reservations: Hackesher Markt, Berlin

He also passed through Hackesher Markt before going into a cabaret.

No Reservations: Hazlitt’s, London

Bourdain happily gave a tour of his favorite hotel in London, the Hazlitt’s Boutique Hotel in Soho.

The Layover (2011, 2012)

The Layover: The Long Hall, Dublin

In 2012 Anthony Bourdain visited Dublin for another series called The Layover. He certainly had a fair share of Guinness in a number of bars, such as the elegant The Long Hall on South Great George’s Street. The same location was also used by Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) in the music video for “Old Town”, way back in 1982.

The Layover: Bar Italia, London

Bourdain went to a busy Italian place with chef Fergus Henderson.

The Layover: Bar Italia, London

Bourdain went to a busy Italian place with chef Fergus Henderson.

The Layover: Two Chairmen, London

Bourdain had a pint of Guinness with Marco Pierre White at a classic pub.

Michael Palin’s New Europe (2007)

New Europe: Heroes Square, Budapest

Michael Palin was in Budapest 2007 for his series called New Europe.

New Europe: Saint Alexandar Nevski, Sofia

During the New Europe series, Palin also visits Bulgaria’s capital Sofia and walk past the cathedral.

New Europe: Skanderbeg Square, Tirana

He also sits down for a chat in front of the Palace of Culture at Skanderbeg Square, in Albania’s capital Tirana.

New Europe: Stari Most, Mostar

Palin walks across the reconstructed bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while discussing the horrors of the recent war.

New Europe: Zielona Brama, Gdansk

In Gdansk, Palin walks past the Zielona Brama (Green Gate) in the eastern part of Dlugi Targ…

New Europe: Zlota Brama, Gdansk

…as well as posing in front of the Zlota Brama (Golden Gate).

Michael Palin’s Pole to Pole (1992)

Pole to Pole: Table Mountain, Cape Town

Michael Palin went up the Table Mountain by cable car in 1992, two years after Nelson Mandela was released from prison in the same city.

Pole to Pole: Cerro San Cristobal, Santiago

A few days later, Palin has gone all the way to the capital of Chile. Here he has ascended the San Cristobal hill to the staty of Mary, overlooking the city.

Michael Palin’s Sahara (2002)

Michael Palin: The Rock of Gibraltar

Michael Palin starts his Sahara adventure with having a look at the British territory of Gibraltar…

Michael Palin: The Angry Friar, Gibraltar

…and ending the brief visit with a quick pint at The Angry Friar. I had a pint there as well, even though I let them keep the glass unlike Palin did.

Michael Palin: Petit Socco, Tangier

A while later Palin arrives to the city of Tangier and has a coffee at Petit Socco (Souk Dakhli), the old heart of the medina and once the forum of the Romans.

Mission Impossible 5: Rogue Nation (2015)

Mission Impossible 5: Air St, London

Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) goes to a record shop for a secret message.

Mission Impossible 5: South Bank, London

Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson) meets up with Atlee (Simon McBurney).

Mission Impossible 5: Temple Church, London

Between the pillars outside Temple Church, it’s time for a Swedish celebrity deathmatch between Ilsa and Janik (Jens Hultén).

November Man (2014)

November Man: Kalemegdan, Belgrade

Peter Devereaux (Pierce Brosnan) pondering at the fortress wall in Serbia’s capital Belgrade, looking at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers…

November Man: Kalemegdan, Belgrade

…before having a chat with Hanley (Bill Smitrovich) on a bench. The bench is still there, several years later.

Homeland (2018)

Homeland: Hotel Boscolo, Budapest

Budapest is featured a lot in season seven of Homeland, where it doubles for Moscow. Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin) is supposed to be in Moscow, but here he is leaving the atrium of Hotel Boscolo and entering the beautiful New York Palace Café. The café has been seen in many other productions, such as season five of Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain.

Homeland: Buda Castle, Budapest

During the climactic escape from the “GRU headquarters” in “Moscow”, the cars are clearly passing the statue of Matthias Corvinus before entering the courtyard of Buda Castle.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Can Travi Nou, Barcelona

Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) and Vicky (Rebecca Hall) is checking out the guitar player at Can Travi Nou, a cozy restaurant in the north part of Barcelona. It’s a very lush patio, so summertime is recommended for a visit.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Parc Guëll, Barcelona

Barcelona in itself is used as a less than subtle backdrop. Here Vicky runs into Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) in front of the water-spitting salamander, a place normally overrun by tourists.

Home Alone 2 (1992)

Home Alone 2: Gapstow Bridge, New York

Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) meets up with the “pigeon lady” (Brenda Fricker) near Gapstow Bridge in a cold Central Park.

Home Alone 2: Radio City Hall, New York

Kevin finds his way past several well-known locations, such as Radio City Hall.

Home Alone 2: Central Park, New York

The unsuccessful duo Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern) look for Kevin under the Bethesda Terrace in Central Park.

Blood Diamond (2006)

Blood Diamond: Waterfront, Cape Town

Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly) is having a coffee at Den Anker in the Waterfront, when she receives the phone call from Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio).