Top 18 Films Shot in Andalucia

If you’re a cinema lover and you’re planning a getaway to Andalucia, take look at 18 films shot in Andalucia and walk where your favourite actors did!

Andalucia has been the film set of countless films, both of the Spanish film industry and foreign. In this list, you’ll discover 18 films that were (partially) shot in the Andalusian provinces: a list every cinema lover can’t miss out on.

PROVINCE OF SEVILLE

Seville has been the most exploited Andalusian province in the Hollywood film industry. Blockbusters such as Star Wars and Mission Impossible have scenes shot in the Andalusian capital city and its province. Let’s take a look at all of them!

1. The Dictator (2012)

A two-day filming of this political satire comedy starring comedian Sacha Baron Cohen took place in Seville’s Plaza de España, which was converted into governor Aladeen’s palace.

2. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)

Another film that set some of its scenes in Plaza de España is the second instalment of the second trilogy of the Star Wars saga. In particular, the Plaza de España was used to create Naboo’s palace in the city of Theed, where princess Amidala (played by Natalie Portman) and young Anakin Skywalker (played by Hayden Christensen) take a walk in the upper area of Plaza de España.

3. Mission Impossible II (2000)

A dark version of Seville’s Holy Week is pictured in the second instalment of the Mission Impossible film series starring Tom Cruise. People carrying torches and unusually dancing were part of the film-vision of the Holy Week in Seville.

4. Knight and Day (2010)

This action comedy film was partially shot in Seville and Cadiz provinces. During the scenes in Seville, you may recognise the Bullring La Maestranza, shown during the escape of Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz’s characters through the narrow streets of the Andalusian capital city.

5. Game Of Thrones

Thousands of fans saw their dream come true when HBO announced that some scenes of the fifth season of the TV-series Game of Thrones were to be filmed in Seville. The Alcazar of Seville was used as set for Dorne’s Water Gardens, Prince Doran Martell’s main residence. Besides, Osuna’s bullring was the used to recreate Daznak’s Pit in Meereen.

But the visit of GOT to Andalucia doesn’t end here, as the following year, all the cast members flew to Andalucia to shot some scenes of the seventh season. The Atarazanas were chosen to represent the Red Keep, and more specifically, the dungeons in King’s Landings, capital of the Seven Kingdoms. The amphitheatre of Italica also took part in the shot, as it was used to recreate the Dragonpit in King’s Landing, where the reunion to decide on the fate of the White Walkers took place.

6. Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

The film starring Orlando Bloom, Eva Green and Jeremy Irons, among others was shot in Morocco and Spain. The Casa de Pilatos and the Alcazar were used in the film to picture King Baldwin IV’s palace in Jerusalem. The same film also had some scenes shot in Cordoba’s Palma del Río’s Pontocarrero Palace to represent a courtyard in Ibelin. A curiosity about the filming of Kingdom of Heaven in Spain: the production would have wanted to shot the scenes in Cordoba’s Mosque, which, however, ended up being denied by the Cathedral’s Council of Canons.

PROVINCE OF CADIZ

7. 007: Die Another Day (2002)

Do you remember Halle Berry coming out of the Habana-like warm waters and reaching the Cuban-like chiringuito? Well, the scene belonging to the 20th film of the James Bond series was shot on Cadiz’s beach of La Caleta. The actress reaches Pierce Brosnan (playing Bond) on a terrace of the Palma Health Resort, while the spy stares at nothing less than the Castle of San Sebastian.

8. Empire of the Sun (1987)

Steven Spielberg himself chose to film this 1987 WWII film on the marshlands of Trebujena, mainly for the splendid sunsets offered during springtime. Another reason was the desert-like landscape, which, on the other side, was perfectly connected with more centric and developed areas.

PROVINCE OF MALAGA

9. The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2004)

This 2004-film featuring Robert de Niro and Geraldine Chaplin was shot in the natural landscape of El Chorro (you may remember it from the post of El Caminito del Rey), as well as in the Bullring of Antequera. Locals took part in the film as background actors, pretending to belong to Colonial Peru.

PROVINCE OF GRANADA

10. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

The 5 Academy Awards-winning British-Italian film was entirely shot in Spain, mainly outside Madrid (due to the ban of the book in the Soviet Union, the film couldn’t be shot there). The Calahorra was the set of the burial of Zhivago’s mother at the beginning of the film. If you look closely, you can also spot the Sierra Nevada in the background.

PROVINCE OF HUELVA

11. The NeverEnding Story (1984)

A cult film in everyone’s childhood, a few know that some scenes of this film based on Michael Ende’s best-seller were shot in Huelva and Almeria provinces. The first one was used to shoot the landscapes, which were then changed in the post-production process, whereas the beach of Mónsul in Almeria is the beach where Atreyu falls from the Luckdragon’s back during the storm.

PROVINCE OF ALMERIA

12. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Spielberg came back to the Andalusian landscapes to shoot the third instalment of the Indiana Jones film series. This film set took place both in Almeria and Granada. San Jose’s beach of Mónsul, the Golden Mines in Rodalquilar, and even the Art School of Almeria can all be seen in the film, together with the Sierra Cabrera, the Escullos beach in San Jose, the Rambla del Búho, and the Tabernas Desert. From Granada province, Spielberg borrowed Guadix’s railway station to recreate a Turkish market.

13. Spaghetti Western (1960 – 1970)

Countless films set in the Far West were actually shot in Andalucia, and in the desert of Tabernas and Cabo de Gata in particular. Among them, we can recall “A Fistful of Dollars” (1964) and “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968). The production was mainly Italian, most of them were directed by Sergio Leone at the sound of Ennio Morricone’s music.

14. Never Say Never Again (1961)

Another one of the Bond-series that was shot in Andalucia. The famous spy was played by Sean Connery, and in some scenes, you may recognise the beach of Los Escullos, Cabo de Gata, the beach of Palmer or the road tunnel of Aguadulce.

15. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

This film is considered one of the best historic and epic films ever made, and it was shot in breathtaking scenarios such as Cabo de Gata, Carboneras and Mojacar. The film producer bought two coaches from the RENFE company to make them blow up, as special effects were not common at the time. Almeria’s Nicolás Salmerón park was also used to recreate the exit of the Arabs from the city of Damascus. Some scenes were also shot in Seville’s Plaza de España.

16. Cleopatra (1963)

The most expensive film ever made up to that point and winner of four Academy Awards had some scenes shot in Almeria, such as the Alcazaba and the San Cristobal hill. Starring Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra and Richard Burton as Anthony, this film portrayed the struggles of Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, to resist the expanding Roman Empire.

17. Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)

American director Ridley Scott chose Almeria province to shoot some scenes of the epic biblical film inspired by the biblical episode of the exodus of the Hebrews led by Moses. The Sierra Alhamilla, the desert of Tabernas (particularly, the Rambla Viciana and the desert of the Buho), the Cinto hill, Níjar and the Gold Mines of Rodalquilar, as well as the marble caves of Macael saw actor Christian Bale and Spanish actress María Valverde act, among others.

PROVINCE OF JAEN

18. Alatriste (2006)

17th-century Spain was brought to life in Ubeda and Baeza, two towns declared World Heritage Site in Jaen province. The film starring Viggo Mortensen (The Lord of the Rings) was based on Spanish writer Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s bestseller and it’s the second most expensive Spanish language film ever made in Spain. In Ubeda, the church of Santa María de los Reales Alcázares and the Santo Domingo square were used as film set. In Baeza, the Jabalquinto palace, the Cathedral and the Old University. Some scenes of the film were also shot in Cadiz.

Where to stay in Andalucia

The best way to tour around the films’ sets in Andalucia is by renting a holiday home. You’ll have the chance to walk where famous Hollywood stars filmed their blockbusters. Want to give it a go? Then check the best holiday villas in Andalucia.

Do you know any other film that was shot in Andalucia? Tell us in the comments below!