Immagini e suoni
The Italian series that made Netflix bet €40 million on Sicily
lI Gattopardo: why Italy is obsessed, and why you should be too
You have probably heard of Il Gattopardo, perhaps through Visconti's legendary 1963 film with Alain Delon, or through its reputation as one of the untouchable masterpieces of Italian literature. But the 2025 Netflix series takes the story somewhere entirely new, and the world noticed immediately.
Within five days of release it had over 3 million views, hit the Top 10 in 30 countries, and went straight to number one in Italy. Fans declared it better than Bridgerton and Downton Abbey combined.
Set in 1860s Sicily during the Risorgimento — the turbulent unification of Italy — it follows Don Fabrizio, Prince of Salina, a man of extraordinary privilege watching his world dissolve around him. His nephew Tancredi delivers what is perhaps the most quoted line in all of Italian literature:
"Se vogliamo che tutto rimanga com'è, bisogna che tutto cambi." If we want everything to stay the same, everything must change.
Every Italian knows this line. After watching the series, you will understand why it still echoes today.
Ready to go deeper into the themes, the history and the Italian behind the show? Read here — and test yourself along the way.
