The third and final Visconti film in which Zeffirelli served as an assistant director, once again alongside Francesco Rosi.
When filming for "Senso" began in late August 1953, Zeffirelli had recently made his debut at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, designing the sets and costumes for Rossini’s "L’italiana in Algeri". His work was so well received that he was invited to be the set designer, costume designer, and director for Rossini’s "La Cenerentola", which premiered in March 1954. As a result, Zeffirelli followed the filming of "Senso" but not the final edit.
His friend Piero Tosi designed the costumes for the film’s secondary characters. Many of Tosi’s sketches are preserved in the Foundation’s archive, as during those years, Zeffirelli and Tosi shared the same apartment in Rome and collaborated closely on the film’s preparation.