LumièreAbruzzo
The Desert of the Tartars filming location in Abruzzo
All films shot in Abruzzo

1976

The Desert of the Tartars

Valerio Zurlini · Vittorio Gassman, Max von Sydow

Valerio Zurlini's adaptation of Dino Buzzati's novel. The fortress is in Iran, but its wild mountain surroundings were partly found in Abruzzo.

Locations in Abruzzo

  • 01

    Campo Imperatore

    Gran Sasso · L'Aquila

    High-plateau exteriors around the frontier.

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  • 02

    Forme

    Massa d'Albe · L'Aquila

    Village scenes, including the hunting sequences.

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  • 03

    Terranera channel

    Sirente-Velino · L'Aquila

    The boar hunt, at the foot of the Sirente-Velino massif.

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Leaflet © OpenStreetMap contributors

Also filmed outside Abruzzo

The fortress is the citadel of Arg-e Bam, Iran.

Shooting here? Meet the local crew

Locations compiled from public sources (Abruzzo Film Commission, Italy for Movies, production notes). Entries marked “Reportedly” are cited by some sources but not confirmed by official ones.