这部极为豪华的古装剧以1866年春天,意大利和奥地利发生冲突前夕为历史背景。描写了一名意大利贵族妇女Countess Serpieri ,背叛自己的婚姻和国家,不顾一切爱上了俊美而乖戾的奥地利军官Lieutenant Franz Mahler,两人爱得轰轰烈烈,但时代已经发生巨变,最终酿成悲剧。Venezia, spring of 1866, in the last days of the Austrian occupation. A performance of Il Trovatore ends up in confusion due to an anti-Austrian demonstration, organised by Count Ussoni. His cousin Countess Serpieri falls in love with vile Austrian Lieutenant Franz Mahler, but the times are changing.