The ''Inspector Montalbano'' ( ) television series are Italian

police procedural The police show, or police crime drama, is a subgenre of procedural drama and detective fiction that emphasizes the investigative procedure of a police officer or department as the protagonist(s), as contrasted with other genres that focus on eit ...

stories. Based on

Andrea Camilleri Andrea Calogero Camilleri (; 6 September 1925 – 17 July 2019) was an Italian writer. Biography Originally from Porto Empedocle, Girgenti, Sicily, Camilleri began university studies in the Faculty of Literature at the University of Palermo, b ...

's detective novels, they are located in the imaginary town of Vigàta,

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

, which is based on Camilleri's native

Porto Empedocle Porto Empedocle ( scn, 'a Marina) is a town and '' comune'' in Italy on the coast of the Strait of Sicily, administratively part of the province of Agrigento. It was named after Empedocles, a Greek pre-Socratic philosopher and a citizen of t ...

. The series star

Salvo Montalbano Inspector, the chief of a precinct or station of the Italian National Police, i.e. a . Salvo Montalbano is a fictional police chief who is a brilliant detective created by Italian writer Andrea Camilleri in a series of novels and short stories. ...

is the police chief, or '' commissario''. The music for the soundtrack was composed by

Franco Piersanti Franco Piersanti (born 12 January 1950) is an Italian composer and conductor. Born in Rome, Piersanti graduated in double bass at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory, where he studied composition under the guidance of Armando Renzi and conducting unde ...

. ''Inspector Montalbano'' was produced and broadcast by

RAI RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana (; commercially styled as Rai since 2000; known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many ter ...

to critical acclaim. It premiered on

Rai 2 Rai 2 is an Italian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by state-owned public broadcaster RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana. It is the company's second television channel, and is known for broadcasting ''TG2'' news bulletins, tal ...

, and then, since the fourth series, on

Rai 1 Rai 1 () is an Italian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by state-owned public broadcaster RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana. It is the company's flagship television channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream and gene ...

. Over 65 countries have broadcast the series, including on

BBC Four BBC Four is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It was launched on 2 March 2002

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

MHz WorldView MHz Networks is an American public broadcaster that specializes in international television programming. Washington, D.C., broadcast operations MHz (pronounced "M-H-Z") Networks began as a project of the Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corpora ...

in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

and SBS in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

. In 2012, the series generated a

spin-off Spin-off may refer to: *Spin-off (media), a media work derived from an existing work *Corporate spin-off, a type of corporate action that forms a new company or entity * Government spin-off, civilian goods which are the result of military or gov ...

, ''

The Young Montalbano ''The Young Montalbano'' () is an Italian television spin-off produced and broadcast by ''Radiotelevisione Italiana'' (RAI) in 2012 and 2015. It is a prequel to the '' Inspector Montalbano'' () series that are based on the detective novels of Andr ...

''.

Synopsis

Inspector Salvo Montalbano is in charge of the

state police State police, provincial police or regional police are a type of sub-national territorial police force found in nations organized as federations, typically in North America, South Asia, and Oceania. These forces typically have jurisdiction o ...

station in Vigàta, a fictional town in the fictional province of Montelusa (see locations) in

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

Southern Italy Southern Italy ( it, Sud Italia or ) also known as ''Meridione'' or ''Mezzogiorno'' (), is a macroregion of the Italian Republic consisting of its southern half. The term ''Mezzogiorno'' today refers to regions that are associated with the pe ...

. Montalbano investigates criminal acts which he always manages to solve by reconstruction thanks to his intelligence and the help of his team which includes his deputy, Domenico 'Mimì' Augello, Giuseppe Fazio, Galluzzo, and Agatino Catarella. Salvo has a long-distance, tempestuous relationship with Livia Burlando who lives in

Genoa Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian census, the Province of ...

. Among his external collaborators are: * his Swedish friend, Ingrid Sjöström who lives in neighbouring Montelusa * the journalist, Nicolò Zito * Vigàta's local forensic pathologist Dr. Marco Pasquano * his cook and housekeeper, Adelina Cirrinciò

Cast

Main characters

Luca Zingaretti Luca Zingaretti (; born 11 November 1961) is an Italian actor and film director, known for playing Salvo Montalbano in the '' Inspector Montalbano'' mystery series based on the character and novels created by Andrea Camilleri. Zingaretti is a na ...

as Inspector

, the police chief of Vigàta (season 1−15) *

Cesare Bocci Cesare Adolfo Bocci (born 13 September 1957) is an Italian actor. Born in Camerino, he has acted in films and on stage, but is best known for his performance as Mimi Augello to Luca Zingaretti's Salvo Montalbano in the television series '' Il ...

as Inspector Domenico "Mimì" Augello, Montalbano's deputy and close friend (season 1−15) * Peppino Mazzotta as Detective Giuseppe Fazio, and Montalbano's right-hand man (season 1−15) * Angelo Russo as Agatino Catarella, police officer (season 1−15) * Davide Lo Verde as Galluzzo, police officer (seasons 1–15) *

Roberto Nobile Roberto Nobile (11 November 1947 – 30 July 2022) was an Italian actor. Selected filmography References External links * 1947 births 2022 deaths Italian male film actors Actors from Verona Italian male television actors 20t ...

as Nicolò Zito, journalist of local TV station ''Rete Libera'' and trusted friend of Montalbano (season 1−15) * Marcello Perracchio as Dr. Marco Pasquano, forensic pathologist (seasons 1–11) *

Katharina Böhm Katharina Böhm (born 20 November 1964) is a Swiss-born Austrian actress. Between 1999 and 2002 she played the role of Livia Burlando in the Italian TV series '' Il commissario Montalbano'', based on the character Salvo Montalbano from the novels ...

(dubbed by Claudia Catani) as Livia Burlando, Montalbano's girlfriend who lives in

and sometimes visits Vigàta (seasons 1–4) * Claudia Catani provided the Italian voice of Livia Burlando, Montalbano's girlfriend who lives in Genoa for Katharina Böhm (seasons 1-4) and Lina Perned (season 9) and as Livia's voice on the telephone (seasons 5-8) *

Lina Perned Lina Lee Perned, born 26 July 1973 in Helsingborg, is a Swedish actress. Career Lina Perned started as a dresser at the Stockholm City Theatre. She made her film debut at the age of 19 with the lead role in the 1992 youth film ' (''Have a Wonderf ...

(dubbed by Claudia Catani) as Livia Burlando, Montalbano's girlfriend who lives in Genoa and sometimes visits Vigàta (season 9) *

Sonia Bergamasco Sonia Bergamasco (born 16 January 1966) is an Italian actress. Born in Milan, Bergamasco graduated in piano at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory and then enrolled the drama school of the Piccolo Teatro, graduating in 1990.Giorgio Dell’Arti, Mas ...

as Livia Burlando, Montalbano's girlfriend who lives in Genoa and sometimes visits Vigàta (season 10−15)

Recurring characters

*Isabell Sollman as Ingrid, Montalbano's Swedish friend (seasons 2–5, 7–8, 11) * Mirella Petralia as Adelina Cirrinciò, Montalbano's housekeeper/cook (seasons 4, 7 and 9) * Ketty Governali as Adelina Cirrinciò, Montalbano's housekeeper/cook (seasons 11, 12) * Fabio Costanzo as Pasquale Cirrinciò, Adelina's son (seasons 4, 7, 9 and 12) * Carmelinda Gentile as Beatrice "Beba" Di Leo, becomes Mimì's wife (main: season 5; guest: seasons 3–4, 6–8, 12) * Giovanni Guardiano as Jacomuzzi, police forensics specialist (seasons 1–5, 8, 12–13) * Giacinto Ferro (1943–2016) as Police Chief Bonetti-Alderighi, Montalbano's superior based in the provincial capital, Montelusa (seasons 1, 4–5, 7–9, 11) * Giovanni Visentin as Judge Tommaseo, morbidly attracted to the more spicy aspects of the cases (seasons 7-9, 11) * Filippo Brazzaventre as Filippo Ragonese, political journalist at local TV station ''Televigàta'' (seasons 4–10) * Ubaldo Lo Presti as Filippo Ragonese, political journalist at local TV station ''Televigàta'' (seasons 1–2) * Francesco Stella as Gallo, police officer (seasons 1–2) * Marco Cavallaro as Tortorella, police officer (seasons 4–6) * Corrado Invernizzi as Lattes, Bonetti-Alderighi's secretary (seasons 1-3, 8) * Francesco Sineri as Don Balduccio Sinagra, retired

mafia "Mafia" is an informal term that is used to describe criminal organizations that bear a strong similarity to the original “Mafia”, the Sicilian Mafia and Italian Mafia. The central activity of such an organization would be the arbitration of d ...

boss (seasons 3–5)

Series and episodes

Production

Given the success of the

novels, published by

Sellerio Sellerio Editore is an Italian publisher founded in 1969 in Palermo, by Elvira Giorgianni and her husband Enzo Sellerio, encouraged by the writer Leonardo Sciascia and the anthropologist Antonino Buttitta. History After some titles published i ...

(

Palermo Palermo ( , ; scn, Palermu , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan province. The city is noted for its ...

with , commissioned a television series, in co-operation with Sweden's SVT,

Sveriges Television Sveriges Television AB ("Sweden's Television Stock Company"), shortened to SVT (), is the Sweden, Swedish national public broadcasting, public television broadcaster, funded by a public service tax on personal income set by the Riksdag (national ...

, of most of the novels and short stories. Each closely follows the plot of the novels, in some cases joining several short stories. Alberto Sironi ( it), who died suddenly in early August 2019, had directed the entire series up till then. He was taken ill during the filming of three new episodes in 2019 and

took over the direction. Camilleri was teaching at the same time that Zingaretti was studying at the

Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico Accademia Nazionale d'Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico (translation: Silvio d'Amico National Academy of Dramatic Arts) is a national drama school in Rome, Italy. Founded in 1936 by the theatrical theorist, critic, and writer Silvio D'Amico, the ac ...

. Luca Zingaretti had to adjust his accent to Sicilian having been born in Rome. ''Inspector Montalbano'' was initially launched on

. It moved to

after the second series.

Austrian Austrian may refer to: * Austrians, someone from Austria or of Austrian descent ** Someone who is considered an Austrian citizen, see Austrian nationality law * Austrian German dialect * Something associated with the country Austria, for example: ...

actress

, then

, both dubbed by Claudia Catani, and now

plays his girlfriend, Livia.

plays his deputy and Peppino Mazzotta plays his most trusted detective Fazio.

Filming

Although Camilleri set his books in a fictionalised

province of Agrigento The Province of Agrigento ( it, Provincia di Agrigento; scn, Pruvincia di Girgenti; officially ''Libero consorzio comunale di Agrigento'') is a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy, situated on its south-western coast. Follo ...

, much of the series is filmed in the

province of Ragusa The Province of Ragusa ( it, Provincia di Ragusa; Sicilian: ''Pruvincia 'i Rausa'') was a province in the autonomous region of Sicily in southern Italy, located in the south-east of the island. Following the abolition of the Sicilian provinc ...

. The exteriors of ''la Mànnara'' were filmed at Fornace Penna in Sampieri. Montalbano's offices are in

Scicli Scicli is a town and municipality in the Province of Ragusa in the south east of Sicily, southern Italy. It is from Ragusa, and from Palermo, and has a population (2017) of 27,051. Alongside seven other cities in the Val di Noto, it has been ...

, as are the offices of Commissioner Bonetti-Alderighi (actually those of the mayor). Filming is in

Ragusa Ibla Ragusa (; scn, Rausa ; la, Ragusia) is a city and '' comune'' in southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Ragusa, on the island of Sicily, with 73,288 inhabitants in 2016. It is built on a wide limestone hill between two deep va ...

Modica Modica (; scn, Muòrica) is a city and '' comune'' of 54,456 inhabitants in the Province of Ragusa, Sicily, southern Italy. The city is situated in the Hyblaean Mountains. Modica has neolithic origins and it represents the historical capit ...

, Donnafugata Castle and the Donnalucata,

Pozzallo Pozzallo ( scn, Puzzaddu) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Ragusa, Sicily, southern Italy. Pozzallo is now a major summer tourist destination: as of March 2020, two beaches in Pozzallo hold a Blue Flag award, presented by the FEE ...

and

Scoglitti Scoglitti ( scn, Scugghitti) is a fishing village and hamlet () of Vittoria, a municipality in the Province of Ragusa, Sicily, Italy. In 2011 it had a population of 4,175. History Scoglitti found a niche in history after being selected by the A ...

ports,

Marina di Ragusa Marina di Ragusa, also known as ''Mazzarelli'', is a southern Italian village and hamlet (''frazione'') of Ragusa, a municipality seat of the homonym province, Sicily. In 2011 it had a population of 3,468, which during the summer rises to more t ...

, Comiso,

Santa Croce Camerina Santa Croce Camerina ( scn, Santa Cruci Camarina) is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Ragusa, Sicily, in southern Italy. As of 2017 its population was of 10,973. Geography The municipal territory of Santa Croce is surrounded by the one ...

, and other places in south-eastern Sicily. The opening shots in the series include the Guerrieri Viaduct in

. The

Coast Guard A coast guard or coastguard is a maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to ...

office in

, in reality, is the small lighthouse museum.

List of main locations

* Ragusa * Punta Secca *

* Donnalucata * Comiso * Chiaramonte Gulfi *

Ispica Ispica (, ) is a city and '' comune'' in the south of Sicily, Italy. It is from Ragusa, from Syracuse, and away from La Valletta, on the coast of Malta. The first mention in a document of Ispica occurred in 1093, in a list of churches and e ...

* Vittoria *

International transmission

The BBC holds the

transmission rights. "Excursion to Tindari" and "Montalbano's Croquettes" were shown on

BBC Four BBC Four is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It was launched on 2 March 2002

in December 2008. On 11 February 2012, "The Snack Thief" was broadcast in its 9 pm Saturday evening slot. On 25 August 2012, BBC Four began to broadcast a series of 12 episodes. From 19 October to 9 November 2013, the four series nine episodes were broadcast and referred to as Series 3. In June 2014, BBC Four began a re-run of all existing episodes and this time commencing in the correct running order. However the episodes (as detailed in dates above) for series 8 were shown in a different order than the Italian sequence. This remains the U.K. sequence for the

BBC iPlayer BBC iPlayer (stylised as iPLAYER or BBC iPLAYER) is a video on demand service from the BBC. The service is available on a wide range of devices, including mobile phones and tablets, personal computers and smart televisions. iPlayer services del ...

stream. In the

, the series is retitled ''Detective Montalbano'' and streams on MHz Choice. In

, the series was shown on

Special Broadcasting Service The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is an Australian hybrid-funded public service broadcaster. About 80 percent of funding for the company is derived from the Australian Government. SBS operates six TV channels ( SBS, SBS Viceland, SBS Wor ...

in Italian, subtitled in English by SBS staff. In France, it was shown in winter 2013 on

France 3 France 3 () is a French free-to-air public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5 and France Info. It is made up of a network of regional television services provi ...

on Sundays with the title ''Commissaire Montalbano''. In Spain, it was on La 2 on Saturdays in spring 2013 and in Argentina on the Europa channel.

DVD release

MHz Networks MHz Networks is an American public broadcaster that specializes in international television programming. Washington, D.C., broadcast operations MHz (pronounced "M-H-Z") Networks began as a project of the Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corpor ...

distributes the Detective Montalbano series on TV, DVD, TVOD and SVOD. In the UK, the earlier episodes are currently available in both a collection and series format, with the series numbering following BBC Four's. These titles are distributed by

Acorn Media UK RLJE International Ltd, d/b/a Acorn DVD, a British company that publishes and distributes DVDs, as well as selling home-video products and streaming videos with a particular focus on British television. History Launched in 1997, Acorn Media U. ...

. In the Nordic countries the first 18 films are available as Box 1 (1–6), Box 2 (7–12) and Box 3 (13–18). All were released in 2009 (labelled 1999, the start date of the series) with Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles. They were released by AtlanticFilms AB on license from RAI Trade. In Spain, there is a confusing situation where episodes are dubbed in Spanish, as well as Italian with Spanish subtitles being available in both box sets containing six episodes each and overlapping mini box sets containing two films each. Both are labelled, ''Colección Montalbano'' in identical boxes just to add to the confusion. Distribution is by Track Media SL.

Awards

* ''2003 Busto Arsizio Film Festival:'' Winner Best TV Series * ''2009 Kineo Awards, Italy:'' Winner Best Television Film * ''2011 Kineo Awards, Italy:'' Winner Best Television Film * ''2014 Crime Thriller Awards, UK:'' Nominee Best International TV Drama * ''2016 TV Award - TV Direction Award:'' Winner Best fiction

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1999 Italian television series debuts Italian crime television series RAI original programming Sveriges Television original programming Andrea Camilleri 1990s Italian television series 2000s Italian television series 2010s Italian television series Detective television series de:Andrea Camilleri#Commissario Montalbano