It is a love from bygone times that is told in the latest romantic comedy written, directed, and starring Paolo Ruffini. And bygone times are also the settings of Rido perché ti amo: to provide the backdrop to the story – of Amanda and Leopoldo – a happy ending, but not taken for granted – is in fact a medieval village perched on a mountain where time seems to have stood still, surrounded by the lush greenery of the Lazio countryside and by an archaeological site full of magic. Here is where the film was shot for its prime-time airing on Rai 1 on Sunday August 31, 2026.
What it’s about
Leopoldo (Nicola Nocella) and Amanda (Barbara Venturato) have been classmates since elementary school, and it is precisely in their school notebooks that he promised her eternal love. Their relationship runs for almost thirty years, while Leopoldo pursues the dream of becoming a world-renowned pastry chef and Amanda the dream of working as a choreographer for esteemed opera houses. When, just days before the wedding, Amanda lands a prestigious assignment at the Paris Opera, she does not hesitate to depart. Leopoldo does not want to follow her, and this seems to create a irreparable rift in their relationship, at least until, convinced that he has erred, he decides to catch up with her and try to win her back and stay true to the promise he made as a child. The help of old friends like Ciro (Paolo Ruffini) and a microcosm of artisans and merchants who, for years, have animated the square of the small town where Leopoldo and Amanda grew up, will be essential in this sense.
Where the film was shot
The sense of community is, moreover, one of the values that shines most strongly through Paolo Ruffini’s romantic comedy, and the locations of Rido perché ti amo seem to amplify it: Leopoldo and Amanda are never alone in fighting to defend their promise of love, but can count on a circle of people who have watched them grow and who, in turn, have grown with them. In the numerous square-centered scenes, that practice so typical of the Italian countryside is kept alive, making the square in question one of Lazio’s towns most interesting for history, mythology, and landscapes.
Sacrofano
In Sacrofano, about half an hour from Rome, all exterior filming for Rido perché ti amo was carried out. The historic center, made up of narrow cobbled alleys that intertwine until reaching — indeed — the main square, was the principal set. Visiting it means strolling through the ancient Jewish Ghetto, stopping beneath the Romanesque bell tower of the Church of Saint John the Baptist, visiting the Church of Saint Blaise and admiring the late-Baroque style of Palazzo .
Also not to be missed is the Monte Musino archaeological site: here once stood the sacred area consecrated to Jupiter Tonante and Hercules Musino, which gives the name to the borough (Sacrofano would derive, indeed, according to some reconstructions, from “sacrum fanum”).
The greenery of the Macchia di Sacrofano and the Veio Park in which it is set make the village an ideal destination also for trekking and nature walks.
Folklore and traditions enthusiasts should not miss the Palio della Stella (in September) and the day (in October) dedicated to the Tevere.
Other locations
Aside from the Lazio village, there are no other listed locations for Rido perché ti amo: most of the interior shoots and even those relating to Paris were filmed in studio, at the Videa Studios in Rome.
