The Borgia -2006-2006 Site
At a time when epic historical dramas were becoming rarer in European cinema, Spanish broadcaster Antena 3 made its largest film investment to date, pouring €10 million (80% of the budget) into The Borgia , with Italian production company De Angelis contributing the remaining 20%. This significant financial commitment reflected the immense cultural weight of the Borgia story in Spain, particularly in the region of Valencia, where the family originated before ascending to the pinnacle of European power.
: The story begins as the family's power is already waning, then flashes back 12 years to the 1492 election of Rodrigo Borgia
The series revolves around the Borgia family's quest for power and survival in the treacherous world of Renaissance politics. Pope Alexander VI, played by Jeremy Irons, is the patriarch of the family, using his cunning and charisma to maintain his grip on the papacy. His children, Cesare, Lucrezia, and Giovanni, are all drawn into the family's web of intrigue, each with their own motivations and conflicts.
Lorenzo declined. Instead, he went back to the archives and searched for more letters. He found twelve. Each one contradicted the show in a different, intimate way. The Borgias, he learned, never laughed like villains. They laughed like a family at dinner. And that, he decided, was the most frightening thing of all. The Borgia -2006-2006
However, the film was widely praised for its acting, particularly the performances of Lluís Homar and Sergio Peris-Mencheta. It earned four Goya Award nominations in Spain, specifically recognizing its technical triumphs in production design, costume design, cinematography, and editing.
The keyword centers on the acclaimed Spanish-Italian biographical film Los Borgia (released internationally as The Borgia ), which premiered in theaters on October 6, 2006. Directed by Antonio Hernández, this historical drama functions as both a feature film and a condensed television miniseries. It traces the meteoric rise and violent unraveling of the House of Borgia—a dynasty originating in Valencia, Spain, that ultimately gripped Renaissance-era Italy in a stranglehold of corruption, nepotism, and political terror.
Within a week, a producer from BBC Four emailed him. They were planning a 20th-anniversary retrospective on The Borgia (2006). Would he care to be a consultant? At a time when epic historical dramas were
The film also includes the Borgias' relationship with Caterina Sforza, the formidable ruler of Forlì who became one of the family's most determined opponents—a figure whose dramatic life story deserves attention in its own right.
The release of Los Borgia was followed by two major international productions: the 2011 Showtime series The Borgias , starring Jeremy Irons, and the 2011 Canal+ series Borgia . It's helpful to distinguish the 2006 film from these later, more famous adaptations.
The series, developed by Neil Jordan and produced by Showtime and Sky Italia, ran for three seasons. It starred Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander VI, Peter Youngblood Hills as Cesare Borgia, and Sarah Gadon as Lucrezia Borgia, among others. Pope Alexander VI, played by Jeremy Irons, is
The story of the Borgia family is one of the most enduring sagas of the Italian Renaissance—a tale of greed, sex, violence, and unprecedented papal ambition. While many adaptations have tackled this scandalous dynasty, the 2006 Spanish-Italian film (released in some regions as The Borgia ), directed by Antonio Hernández, offers a gritty, detailed, and historically minded look at the infamous family's rise and fall.
The show's impact on popular culture can be seen in several areas:
Accessing The Borgia presents some challenges for modern audiences. As of 2026, the film is not currently available on major streaming platforms in many territories. It is occasionally available for digital rental or purchase, though availability varies significantly by region. For dedicated viewers, physical media releases (DVD) may offer the most reliable access, particularly for the extended television cut.
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The film follows Rodrigo's efforts to consolidate power through his four illegitimate children. His eldest son, Cesare (Sergio Peris-Mencheta), finds himself trapped in a cardinal's robes when his true nature longs for military glory and ruthless action. Meanwhile, his beautiful daughter Lucrezia (María Valverde) is treated as a political bargaining chip, forced into strategic marriages designed to forge alliances with rival families. Another son, Juan (Sergio Múñiz), serves as captain of the Vatican army until a violent confrontation with Cesare alters the family's trajectory permanently. The youngest, Jofré (Eloy Azorín), drifts passively through the family's machinations, more a spectator than participant.