26 July 2026 · CineFood Italia Editorial Team
Roman Holiday: Audrey Hepburn's Gelato
The gelato on the Spanish Steps in Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and the timeless Rome of the film. Where to try it.
Roman Holiday (1953), directed by William Wyler, made Rome eternal in the imagination of the whole world. Princess Ann, played by Audrey Hepburn opposite Gregory Peck, tours the city on a Vespa, cuts her hair and tastes freedom… with a gelato in hand. A production detail that wasn’t a given at the time: it was the first major Hollywood film shot entirely on location, between real Rome and Cinecittà studios, in an era when major studios preferred rebuilding everything back in Los Angeles. Here is the itinerary through the film’s places and the flavours to try.
The gelato on the Spanish Steps
The gelato scene on the Spanish Steps is one of the most famous in film history. Even today, an artisan gelato while strolling through the centre is the sweetest way to experience Rome like Audrey.
The (partly improvised) Mouth of Truth scene
One of the film’s most beloved sequences takes place at the Mouth of Truth, inside the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin: Gregory Peck puts his hand into the stone mouth and pretends it has been bitten off, hiding it inside his jacket. A detail few people know: it wasn’t in the script. It was the actor’s own improvisation to scare young Audrey Hepburn, who hadn’t been warned — her startled reaction and scream in the scene are therefore completely genuine.
The film’s other locations
The itinerary also takes in Palazzo Barberini, Via delle Quattro Fontane, the Colosseum, Castel Sant’Angelo and the squares of the historic centre. A perfect tour of timeless monuments and views.
What to taste in the Rome of the film
Beyond gelato, the Rome of Roman Holiday is one of historic cafés and trattorias: treat yourself to a cappuccino at the bar, a maritozzo with cream, and in the evening authentic Roman cuisine, from cacio e pepe to carciofi alla giudia. Rome is the city with the most food locations on our site: discover them on the Rome page.
In short
Roman Holiday is an invitation to experience Rome with lightness: a Vespa, a staircase and a gelato, in a city the film captured for real, street by street. A classic that, decades later, still makes you want to travel. Browse the other films set in the capital.
🎟️ Live the experience
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Frequently asked questions
▸ Where was the gelato scene in Roman Holiday filmed?
On the Spanish Steps in Rome, with Audrey Hepburn.
▸ Which places appear in Roman Holiday?
The Spanish Steps, the Mouth of Truth, the Colosseum and Castel Sant'Angelo.
▸ What should you taste in Rome?
Artisan gelato, maritozzo with cream, cappuccino and Roman cuisine.
▸ Was Roman Holiday really filmed entirely in Rome?
Yes: it was the first major Hollywood production filmed entirely on location in Rome, between the real city and Cinecittà studios, instead of being rebuilt on a studio lot in Los Angeles.
▸ Was the Mouth of Truth scene scripted?
Not entirely: Gregory Peck's gesture of pretending to lose his hand was an improvisation meant to scare Audrey Hepburn, who hadn't been warned — her surprised reaction and scream in the scene are completely real.
📖 Need a ready-made itinerary?
The CineFood Italia PDF Guide: every real venue with address, price and 3 ready-made itineraries, $9.97.
