Second film in which Zeffirelli and Francesco Rosi worked as assistant directors to Luchino Visconti. In this case, Rosi also contributed to the screenplay, while Zeffirelli was assigned the task of ensuring continuity between the different scenes. The archive holds reproductions of several sketches made by Zeffirelli to document the characters' costumes, allowing them to be recreated even after several days.
"Bellissima" also marked the film debut of 24-year-old Piero Tosi, who would later be regarded as the most important costume designer of the 20th century. It was Zeffirelli, who had known and admired him since their student days in Florence, who involved him in the film as the costume coordinator.