Where Was The White Lotus Filmed?

The White Lotus has become the latest HBO series to take the world by storm. Set at the fictional White Lotus resort chain, the comedy-drama focuses on the employees and guests of the hotel over a week’s stay as they deal with various problems that arise. The second season recently finished and was a big hit, taking out two Golden Globe Awards for Best Limited or Anthology Series and Best Supporting Actress for Jennifer Coolidge, who gave an incredibly hilarious acceptance speech. The show is set in some breathtaking locations and has got everybody asking, “Where was The White Lotus filmed?”

Created by Mike White (the man behind School of Rock and the TV series Enlightened), The White Lotus was filmed in two different countries (America and Italy) and is a hysterical look at people on vacation and how different personalities clash when trying to relax in the most beautiful parts of the world. The first season was a huge hit, winning ten Emmys, and quickly followed by season two. Both are set at different resorts and each features a new colorful cast, with Coolidge’s emotionally troubled Tanya and her new beau Greg (Jon Gries) the only returning characters.

While the first season was tremendous, the second is even better, although it’s not something White thought would happen. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly he said, “I always thought of it as an experimental show, so there was never any idea that we would even do another season.” Thankfully for fans, there is a season two, switching locations from Hawaii to Italy and enlisting some of the best talents in the industry as the leads, including Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos), Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation), Tom Hollander (The Night Manager), and F Murray Abraham (Homeland, Amadeus).

The Four Seasons is once again a stand-in for The White Lotus chain of hotels, with the luxury hotel brand apparently happy to be associated with the hit show. And as these are actual hotels, that means you can also stay in them and live your own version of The White Lotus, hopefully without as much drama. 

Where Was The White Lotus Filmed?

HBO

As mentioned, season one of The White Lotus was filmed in Hawaii and season two was in Italy. The hotel seen in season one is the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, while in season two it’s the San Domenico Palace, Taormina, in Sicily.

Anyone that has watched the show will realize the majority of season one takes place at the hotel. This was due to COVID-19 restrictions. With many of the shooting rules put in place now lifted, season two was able to venture out into the Sicilian countryside and coast, opening the show up to new and beautiful locations. 

The White Lotus Season 1 – Hawaii

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

As much as the show is nothing without White’s hilarious and emotional script and the tremendous actors and actresses that appear on the screen (including Connie Britton, Murray Bartlett, Alexandra Daddario, Steve Zahn, Jake Lacey, and Sydney Sweeney), the location of The White Lotus is also very important to the show. It almost acts as another character that everyone interacts with throughout the show. Tasked with writing a show that could be set in one location due to COVID-19 restrictions, White used his childhood memories of visiting Hawaii on holiday to come up with The White Lotus. sss

The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea made the perfect location for shooting the show. Consisting of 380 guest rooms and suites, the traditionally decorated hotel captures the local culture while offering a luxurious stay for those who can afford it. Prices start from just under $2,000 per room, with the hotel’s 15 acres including a spa, three pools, three restaurants, and passage to the pristine Wailea Beach. There’s even an art museum and access to three golf courses. 

The Pineapple Suite, the Hibiscus Suite, and the Tradewinds Suite are seen throughout the show, and while they are extravagantly decorated, this isn’t the case in reality. Production designer Laura Fox spoke with Deadline and explained how she redesigned the rooms to fit White’s vision. 

Wailea Beach

Confined to the hotel for the majority of the shoot, the only major outdoor location the cast shot at that you can visit is Wailea Beach. The area is part of the luxurious resort community in South Maui. Five of the most expensive hotels share the 1,500 acres of land that meets the beach. The hot spot location was named “America’s Best Beach” in 1999 and is great for swimming, snorkeling, and other water sports. 

If you feel like discovering Hawaii or having your own White Lotus experience, the resort is open for bookings. But before splashing your cash on The Palm Suite, read up on the history of colonialism and how tourism has negatively impacted the local Hawaiian people. While it is the island’s main source of income, many of the big hotel chains (including the Four Seasons) are looked after better by the government than the actual locals. Just some food for thought. 

The White Lotus Season 2 – Sicily 

Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in Taormina

Changing things up, season two of The White Lotus ventures to Italy. Sicily to be exact. The Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in the breathtaking town of Taormina plays host to a new cast of characters who find themselves experiencing the historic Italian town. The clifftop resort provides impressive views of the Ionian Sea, Mount Etna (a still active volcano), and a Greek theater known as Teatro Antico di Taormina. 

Close to the Isola Bella nature reserve, the hotel was once a 14th-century Dominican convent before being turned into accommodations in 1896. The hotel has played host to several big celebrity stars over the past century, with the likes of Oscar Wilde, Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Edward VII all having stayed there. 

The San Domenico Palace went under a full refurbishment in 2021 when the Four Seasons took over. It now contains 111 rooms and suites, a spa area, an infinity pool, three different bars and restaurants – one of which is fine dining – and historic gardens. It will set you back around $1,000 per night for the cheapest room, with the more opulent suites coming with plunge pools, terraces, and other added features. 

Fun fact: The White Lotus isn’t the first production to feature San Domenico Palace. It is the setting for the end of Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1960 Italian drama L’Avventura. The divers from 1988’s The Big Blue also stayed at the hotel during filming. 

Noto

Free from COVID-19 restrictions, the season two production of The White Lotus was able to venture out into the open and shoot at some scenic locations dotted around the southern Italian coast. This is something that pleased director Mike White. “I’m not going to complain about being at the Four Seasons Maui, but you do start to feel like it was a Hawaiian Shining,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “It was cool this season to be able to feature more of the city and some of the iconic places in Sicily. The canvas gets much bigger and that’s a huge improvement.”

One of the unique places filming took place was the southern town of Noto. Famous for its Baroque architecture, the Palazzo Ducezio and the cathedral on Corso Vittorio Emanuele are both featured when Harper (Aubrey Plaza) and Daphne (Meghann Fahy) take a day trip to the enchanting town. 

The UNESCO-protected town is worth a visit if you ever make it to Sicily. Along with the incredible architecture, Noto has a wild food culture and several nearby beaches. It really feels like you have stepped back in time.

Palermo 

At the end of their day in Noto, Daphane takes Harper to an Italian palazzo and gives her a surprise. The palazzo is Villa Tasca but it’s not actually located in Noto. It’s on the other side of the island in the capital Palermo. You can actually stay in Villa Tasca, with bookings available on Airbnb. 

As far as visiting, Palermo is the second largest historical center in Europe with a host of UNESCO sites littered throughout the town. If you really want to discover Italy’s past, this is a great place to start. 

Cefalù

Several of the hotel guests spend a day exploring the medieval town of Cefalù. The coastal town has swell beaches, a Norman cathedral, and the famous Mandralisca Museum. It’s a tourist hotspot during the summer so try going a few weeks before the holidays if you don’t want to deal with crowds. 

Fiumefreddo

The Di Grasso’s spend a day visiting Fiumefreddo, taking in the Castello Degli Schiavi, a large castle the town is known for. Fiumefreddo was also one of the locations of The Godfather, making it a must-visit for any mafia movie fan who makes it to Sicily. 

The White Lotus Season 3 – ?

HBO

With season two having only just finished, there is no word on the plot or cast for season three, but we do know it is happening. HBO has confirmed that season three has been given the green light. After season one dealt with money and season two sex, White has said the third might be “a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality.” This opens the door to an Asian setting that would make for another breathtaking location to film. 

Until then you’ll have to be content with watching The White Lotus on HBO or grabbing your passport and exploring these real-life locations for yourself. 

Categories: Entertainment
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