EVER noticed how the Vatican looks a lot like the royal palace of Naboo on the big screen? It’s not a coincidence, and it’s not likely the Pope and Princess Amidala share decor tips.

But if you’ve watched Angels and Demons and Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace at the cinema, or during the innumerable re-runs on the streaming services, you may well have a sense of deja vu.

Throw Mission Impossible 3 into the mix, and you’ll be even more convinced that surely we’ve been here before …

The real-life Palace

There’s a good reason for that. Each of the box office blockbusters has lookalike scenes filmed at the Royal Palace of Caserta, a real-life palatial pile situated about 15 miles north of Naples.

In Angels and Demons (2009), symbologist Robert Langdon, memorably played by Tom Hanks, walked through the corridors and halls of the Vatican to foil a perilous papal plot.

Although much of the movie was shot on location on Rome, film-makers were not allowed to shoot inside St Peter’s Basilica, so the spectacular surrounds of Caserta stood in for the real thing.

Likewise, Tom Cruise’s third IMF outing, during which Ethan Hunt dressed as a priest to stroll through the Vatican in search of the Rabbit’s Foot, had earlier been filmed at the same Naples location in 2006.

And both were beaten to it back in 1999 when Phantom Menace, the first part of the Star Wars prequel trilogy was filmed there, featuring Ewan McGregor as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Yes, that same Ewan McGregor with whom Tom Hanks tangles in Angels and Demons, so a full circle of sorts for movie buffs!

So what is it, actually? The real-life Royal Palace of Caserta is a former royal residence constructed by the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies as their main home as kings of Naples.

It’s the largest palace of its era erected in Europe, boasting five floors; 1,200 rooms, including two dozen state apartments; 1,742 windows; 34 staircases; 1,026 fireplaces; a large library; and a theatre modelled after the Teatro San Carlo of Naples.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can visit the palace, marvel at the sights and relive your movie memories. You can find admission prices and open hours on the official website.

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