Pixar's Luca: the Liguria of the Film

Pixar’s Luca (2021) made the whole world dream of the Italian Riviera. Director Enrico Casarosa, from Genoa, drew on his own childhood on the Riviera to build the film’s atmosphere, released on Disney+ on June 18, 2021. The fictional town of Portorosso, with its colourful alleys and crystal-clear sea, is a collage of the Cinque Terre and the villages of Liguria, and it is a film in which food is everywhere: perfect for a tasty family trip.

The Liguria of Luca, village by village

Portorosso is Liguria in a nutshell: pastel houses, boats, little squares and the scent of the sea. The film’s production designer explained how each Cinque Terre village contributed a detail: Portorosso’s main square is inspired by Vernazza’s; the distinctive red house on the little harbor of Riomaggiore inspired the home of Giulia, one of the film’s main characters; Camogli, with its painted façades, inspired the architecture of the buildings, recreated with help from 1950s archive photographs.

What to eat (just like in the film)

In the film they eat mountains of pasta: impossible not to mention trofie al pesto, Liguria’s signature dish. Also try:

• Genoese focaccia, tall and just oily enough;
• Trenette and pansoti with walnut sauce;
• Chickpea farinata;
• Gelato, the absolute star of Luca’s summer days.

A family itinerary

The Cinque Terre and the Ligurian coast are ideal for a weekend of sea, villages and good food, suitable for children who grew up with the film. Scenic trains, trails and little beaches complete the picture.

In short

Luca is Liguria set to animation: colours, sea and pesto. A film that makes you hungry and eager to travel. Discover the other films and their food locations.