ITALY – Venice, Fondamente Misericordia // Moonraker (1979)
“Moonraker” presents a Venice full of love and action. One area combines both – without being too crowded. This is, why you should visit Cannaregio!
Why Bond was here
French megalomaniac Hugo Drax (Michael Lonsdale) wants to repopulate mankind in space. And kill the rest on earth. James Bond (Roger Moore) and CIA operative Dr. Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles) are on his heels. After briefly meeting each other at Drax’ estate in the US they meet again in Italys lovers city Venice – at the arcadian neighbourhood Cannaregio.
Bond meets Goodhead at Cannaregio
How you gonna get there
Cannaregio is a quaint area in comparison to the rest of busy Venice. The “accidental” meeting between Bond and Goodhead was filmed at Fondamenta Misericordia, a broad walkway next to Rio della Misericordia. At first take a vaporetti and exit either at Ca D’Oro or Casino and then just walk up north for some minutes. Or you may also start your journey at Ferrovia and walk eastwards through the Jewish quarter. The right spot at Fondamente Misericordia is in front of Ponte san Marziale. Also close by: Locations from the later gondola chase, visible from Ponte dell’Abbazia.
Good to know
Cannaregio is a lovely area to spend time, truly Venetian without the hustle. So try to be there as much as possible! The neighbourhood is full of artsy cafés, galerias and creative restaurants. Small lanes lead to tranquill courtyards, boys play football and church bells call for the midday prayer.
We talked to Cannaregio native Riccardo, who was a small boy back in the days of filming – and one of those football-crazy youngsters. He remembers the action: The crew filmed the gondola chase along Rio Madonna dell’Orto in front of a huge church. “At the time, we had football goals painted on the walls next to the church”, Riccardo says. “The production decided to erase them – without painting them back after!”
The neighbourhood also has a sad history, as it was the Jewish quarter and now slowly brings back the heritage. Jews were forced to live here by the government of the Venetian Republic in this area back in the 16th century, during the Holocaust many had been deported. A memorial at Campo di Ghetto Nuovo remembers the victims today. Only few of the once 500 Venetian jews live in Cannaregio today, but many come to visit and pray at the synagogues or visit the Judaica shops and kosher restaurants.
Starting at sunset, the area fills with people sitting on the sidewalks and enjoying a glass of red wine at the canals. Come early to grab a spot. We can recommend the Jewish restaurant “Gam Gam”, if you should ever want to have a pasta break. Otherwise try “Trattoria Da Gigio” for some refined Italian food. If you travel with children, Cannaregio will be a lifesaver: Just across Ponte delle Guglie is Venice biggest park with the best of the very few playgrounds. We came here almost every afternoon.
© 2024 Huntingbond (1,3), © 1979 Danjaq S.A. & United Artists Corporation