Maps of Movies

Spartacus (1960)

Where Spartacus says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A Roman slave epic: the Italian countryside was shot in California, and the great battle on a plain outside Madrid

Scenes and places

The mining pit where Spartacus is found

Spartacus, a Thracian slave in a mining pit, is so defiant that he is sentenced to death by starvation. By chance the gladiator trainer Batiatus sees him, is impressed by his ferocity and buys him.

Set in Mining pit (location not named in the plot) — A slave mine where Spartacus is so uncooperative that he is sentenced to starve.

Filmed at Death Valley, California — Filming began here on January 27, 1959, for the opening quarry sequence. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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The gladiator school at Capua

Spartacus is trained as a gladiator and forms a quiet bond with the serving woman Varinia, refusing to force himself on her. When Crassus visits and buys Varinia, a private fight to the death is staged for his party, which ends in a riot that lets the gladiators escape.

Set in Capua, gladiator school — The school where Batiatus trains gladiators; the coordinates are the town of Santa Maria Capua Vetere, not a film location. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The escaped gladiators on the road

Spartacus is elected chief of the fugitives and decides to lead them out of Italy and back to their homes. They plunder country estates for money to buy sea passage, and more slaves keep joining.

Set in Italian countryside — The fugitives plunder country estates and gather new followers.

Filmed at Wildwood Regional Park, Thousand Oaks, California — Large parts of the film were shot in this park. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Filmed at Mount Clef Ridge, California Lutheran University — An army can be seen storming off this ridge. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Crassus's house in Rome

Varinia is sent to Crassus's house in Rome, and Antoninus, a slave entertainer in his service, learns that Crassus expects him to become his sex slave. Both later flee to Spartacus's camp.

Set in Crassus's house, Rome — The Roman home of the senator Crassus, where Varinia is sent and where the slave entertainer Antoninus serves.

Filmed at Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California — Scenes set in Crassus's villa were filmed here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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The Cilician pirates' envoy

A Cilician agent reaches the rebel camp with a letter from the pirate governor of Delos. It offers to carry the slave army from the Italian port of Brundusium, the one way out Spartacus has planned for.

Set in Rebel camp in southern Italy — A Cilician agent arrives at the rebel camp with a letter offering ships.

The Senate and the rivals

The Senate grows alarmed as Spartacus defeats every army sent against him. Crassus's rival Gracchus tries to keep military power out of Crassus's hands by backing the young senator Julius Caesar.

Set in Rome, the Senate — The Roman Senate, alarmed by every army Spartacus defeats.

The battle on the plain

Surrounded by Roman legions, Spartacus persuades his men to fight on. He tells them that by rebelling and proving themselves human they have already struck a blow against slavery.

Set in Battlefield (location not named) — The plain where the Roman legions close in on the slave army.

Filmed at Plain outside Madrid, Spain — The battle scenes were filmed on a vast plain outside Madrid; the coordinate is the city centre, not the plain. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Filmed at Alcalá de Henares, Spain — Listed among the Spanish filming locations (Puerta de Madrid, Paseo de los Curas, the hills of Alcalá); the coordinate is the town centre. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Filmed at Peña del Cerro, Colmenar Viejo, Spain — One of the film's battles was filmed here; the coordinate is the municipality. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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The Appian Way

The Via Appia, the road where the revolt began, is where the story's last chapter plays out.

Set in Appian Way (Via Appia) — The Roman road south from the city; the coordinate is the road in Rome, not a film location. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Spartacus — A Thracian slave who leads a revolt of gladiators and slaves against Rome.
• Crassus — A wealthy Roman senator who aims to become dictator of Rome.
• Varinia — A serving woman at the gladiator school who forms a quiet bond with Spartacus.
• Batiatus — Lentulus Batiatus, the manager of the gladiator school in Capua.