Most of Ben-Hur was filmed in and around Rome, Italy (especially at Cinecittà Studios), with additional work done at MGM Studios in California and a few exterior desert shots in the United States.

Main filming locations

  • Rome, Italy (Cinecittà Studios) – The massive sets for Jerusalem, the chariot arena, and many interiors were built at Cinecittà Studios in Rome, which served as the core production base.
  • Arcinazzo Romano, Italy – This mountain village about 40 miles from Rome was used as the stand‑in for Nazareth.
  • Anzio, Italy – Beaches near Anzio provided coastal and sea‑adjacent scenes.
  • Caves near Rome – Caves just south of the city were used for the leper colony/Valley of the Lepers sequences.

Other listed locations

  • Canale Monterano, Italy – Used for rural and hillside scenes such as the Mount Shermont sequence.
  • Frosinone & Latina (Lazio region) – Various countryside and landscape shots were done in these areas.
  • Durango, Mexico (often cited) – Some location lists include Durango for additional landscape-style shots, though the core production stayed centered on Italy and studio work.

Studio and desert work

  • Metro‑Goldwyn‑Mayer Studios, California, USA – Close‑ups, pickups, and some controlled effects scenes were filmed on MGM soundstages after or alongside the Italian shoot.
  • Arizona, USA – A limited number of wide desert panoramas were reportedly captured in Arizona to supplement the Mediterranean exteriors.

Quick answer for “where was Ben-Hur filmed” :
It was primarily shot at Cinecittà Studios and nearby locations in the Lazio region of Italy (including Arcinazzo Romano, Anzio, and areas around Rome), with some scenes and inserts completed at MGM Studios in California and a few desert panoramas in the American Southwest.

Information gathered from public data available on the internet and portrayed here.