9 Italian TV series to watch

I started watching Italian TV series last year, amidst the third (and longest) lockdown. In fact, I published the post ‘6 French and Italian crime series to watch’ in April 2021, a few days after we came out of lockdown. Since then, not only have I watched more Italian TV series, but I’ve also been fortunate to visit Italy.

A few months ago, I went on a 10-day trip to Southern Italy. After landing in Bari, the capital and the largest city of Puglia, I visited the inland towns of Alberobello and Locorotondo, as well as the seaside Monopoli and Polignano a Mare. I then visited Matera, a city located not in Puglia, but in the neighbouring region of Basilicata. After staying there for a couple of days, I took the bus to Lecce and returned to Puglia. From there, I continued to Ostuni, Cisternino and Brindisi.

On my return, I continued watching Italian TV series (on Netflix and beyond). Here they are:

6 Italian TV series to watch on Netflix

Suburra: Blood On Rome

This is the first Italian-language original TV series on Netflix. As the title implies, it is set in Rome. It is about crime and corruption among organized crime (gangs and the Mafia), politicians and the clergy. There are a total of 24 episodes to watch (divided into three seasons). The first season has ten episodes, the second one has eight, whereas the final season has six episodes. Each episode is 40 to 60-minute-long.

Curon

This is a supernatural horror TV drama set in Curon, a village in South Tyrol in Northern Italy. There are seven episodes, 40 to 50-minute long. Since I am not a huge fan of this genre, ‘Curon’ was my least favourite series on this list.

Generation 56K (Generazione 56K)

On the other hand, the rom-com ‘Generation 56K’ was among my favourite series on this list. It is set on Procida, an island off the coast of Naples in Southern Italy, which is this year’s Italian Capital of Culture. There are eight 30-minute-long episodes, all available on Netflix.

An Astrological Guide for Broken Hearts (Guida Astrologica per Cuori Infranti)

This is another rom-com and easy-to-watch Italian TV series. It is set in Turin, the capital city of Piedmont in Northern Italy. There are twelve 30-minute-long episodes (divided into two seasons), all available on Netflix.

Luna Park

‘Luna Park’ is set in Rome in the 1960s. There are six episodes, with an average duration of 50 minutes. Although the story has not concluded so far, there has not been any confirmation for a second season, as far as I am aware.

The Trial (Il Processo)

‘The Trial’ is another Italian crime series available on Netflix. There are a total of eight 50-minute-long episodes, which follow the trial of a murder suspect. The series is set in Mantua (or Mantova), a picturesque city in Lombardy in Northern Italy.

3 more Italian TV series to watch (not currently on Netflix)

Carlo & Malik (Nero a Metà)

The first season of ‘Carlo & Malik’ was available on Netflix, but unfortunately this is no longer the case. The second season did not go to Netflix internationally. I had, however, the opportunity to watch it on a recent trip to Rome, and I really enjoyed it. Like ‘Suburra’, it is also set in Rome and there are 24 episodes to watch. Each of the 50-minute-long episodes features a murder case being solved against the backdrop of the Eternal City.

Thou Shalt Not Kill (Non Uccidere)

There are three seasons currently available on Channel 4. The first season has 24 one-hour-long episodes, whereas the other two have 12 episodes each (also hour-long). Each murder case is solved either in a single episode or in a pair of episodes. Although the series is set in Turin, the aesthetics of the series is reminiscent of Nordic Noir.

Ice Cold Murders (Rocco Schiavone)

Also available on Channel 4 is ‘Ice Cold Murders’. Although there are a total of 16 episodes (divided into four seasons), I have only watched season one (six episodes) and season two (four episodes). This is another crime series and each murder case is solved in a single episode (of a duration longer than an hour). The series is set in Aosta, in Northwestern Italy.

Further reading

If you’ve enjoyed these Italian TV series and worked up an appetite for binge-eating more European crime series, check out my posts:

10 Finnish & Icelandic TV series to watch

12 Norwegian TV series to watch

If you’ve worked out an appetite for Italy, check out my previously published posts about Rome, Florence and Verona.

Alex

(the Traveling Psychiatrist)