Relatively recently started the 7th season of the television series "Game of Thrones". The film, which has already become a cult, attracts a multi-million audience not only with an interestingly twisted plot, excellent acting, but also with incredible locations in which the action unfolds. Despite the fact that Game of Thrones is a fantasy television series, its creators paid great attention to filming against the backdrop of real landscapes and castles. What picturesque places became the scenery for the film - further in the review.
Seville Alcazar, Spain (Water Gardens, Dorne)
The magnificent Sunspir Palace of the Alcazar fortress in Spain is the oldest place where the royal family still lives. Representatives of the dynasty kindly agreed to provide the lower levels of the castle for the filming of the Game of Thrones.
Doune Castle, Scotland (Winterfell)
Dun Castle became the backdrop for the family home of the Stark family, Winterfell. The gloomy stone walls are the best suited to the harsh atmosphere of the northern kingdom.
Baroque staircase (Dubrovnik) and the famous queen's atonement scene
It was from the baroque staircase in Dubrovnik (Croatia) that one of the most iconic scenes began - the atonement of Queen Cersei. After this episode, the words became winged: “Shame!”
Klis Fortress, Croatia (City of Meereen)
The Klis Fortress in Croatia is another great setting to display the whole city. Paving stones, ruins, stone walls - the breath of antiquity is felt everywhere.
Azure Window Limestone Rock, Malta (Wedding site of Daenerys and Khala Drogo)
One of the most beautiful places on the planet is called the 28-meter limestone rock in the shape of the Azure Window arch. Directors often use it as a picturesque backdrop in their films.
Fort Lovrijenac, Dubrovnik (Red Castle, King's Landing)
The fabulous view of Darkhenges Beech Alley was a stunning backdrop for the Kings Route in Game of Thrones.
Participation in the television series has changed dramatically
Filming of one of the most popular, sought-after and expensive television series in history - "Game of Thrones" - was carried out in various parts of the world.
The team filming the film version of George Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire had to travel virtually the whole world for this. Yes, that's right - King's Landing has very real geographic coordinates in our world, and the White Walkers also come from a very specific place. Let's find out exactly where the shooting of the most striking episodes took place.
You might want to visit these places and find yourself inside an exciting TV saga.
Spain
Spain has contributed to the series with its scenic locations in the latest (for now) fifth season of Game of Thrones. But it was an exceptionally bright and spectacular debut. Amazing Seville spread out before the audience, which on the screens turned into the capital of Dorne.
When the Andalusians found out what kind of film crew would soon come to them, this caused an unprecedented emotional upsurge among the locals. And when the recruitment of 550 people for extras was announced, the real excitement began. The headquarters of the project and the production center, which was located in the town of Osuna, in a matter of days received 86,000 applications from all over Andalusia. For comparison, the entire population of Osuna is 17,973 people.
Seville Alcazar - Water Gardens, Dorne
The picturesque palaces and colorful parks of Seville were chosen to depict Dorne as it appears in the original work - the rich and luxurious home of the Martells. One look at all this beauty and wealth is enough to understand why the Lannisters were so interested in building relationships with the Martells.
In the fifth season, viewers can enjoy how the real "earthly" Alcazar of Seville turns into the Water Gardens - the most picturesque country estate of the Martell family. An amazing combination of young Sand snakes frolicking in the pools and gardens of the palace and adults weaving terrible intrigues is truly “invigorating”.
According to some unverified reports, in future seasons we will be shown the underground reservoir of the Martell Castle, similar to the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul.
Osuna Bullring - Meereen Arena
One of the most poignant moments of the fifth season of the series was a real massacre in the arena of Meereen. In our world, this is the bullring in Osuna. In the "Game of Thrones" in this arena, the main characters were, of course, not bulls. We will pity those who have not watched the fifth season yet, and we will not give out the secrets of the film. Let's just say that according to D. B. Weiss, it took 17 days to shoot just one of the scenes, not counting the work on special effects.
Long before the release of the season on the screens, the managers of the local restaurant Casa Curro, knowing full well that after the premiere a powerful stream of tourist fans would pour in, renamed some menu items. So, the restaurant appeared dishes "Khalisi", "Jon Snow", "Melisandra" and others in the same spirit.
Roman Bridge, Cordoba - Long Bridge, Volantis
In the Game of Thrones, our "earthly" Spanish Cordoba has become the largest of the Free Cities, and the amazing Roman Bridge has been transformed into a fantasy Long Bridge. In fact, the Spanish river Guadalquivir is incommensurably smaller than the fabulous Roina, but modern cinematography has easily solved the problem of impressive proportions.
Morocco
Actress Emilia Clarke during the filming of the series had to travel decently - exactly the same as her alter ego - Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons. Episodes with the last of the Targaryens were filmed in Croatia, Morocco and Malta. In Morocco, the task was to recreate Essos - a hot and sunny continent.
Ait Ben Haddou - Yunkai and Pentos
After the release of famous episodes of the series, tourist traffic in Morocco has increased markedly. Many fans wanted to personally repeat the entire journey of Daenerys through Slaver's Bay and the Free Cities. Most of all, tourists (and filmmakers) liked the Moroccan ksar Ait Ben Haddou. The fortified city sprawls majestically on a hill a hundred kilometers from the capital Marrakesh in the middle of a hot desert - the perfect location for filming the right episodes of "Game of Thrones". These walls still remember how trade caravans loaded with a wide variety of goods entered the city centuries ago.
I must say that this Moroccan fortress appears in many famous films - "The Pearl of the Nile", "Gladiator", "Mummy", "Jesus of Nazareth", "Alexander". Feature films have been regularly filmed here since the 60s of the last century. The ancient ksar looks very authentic.
As for the "Game of Thrones", Ait Ben Haddu "starred in the role" of two fantasy cities at once - free Pentos and slave-owning Yunkai.
Essaouira - Astapor
In the series, Astapor is located south of Yunkai. In our world, everything is geographically somewhat different. Essaouira, which in the movie is transformed into Astapor, is located to the west of Ait Ben Haddou - on the Atlantic coast. It was at this point that Daenerys was in the exciting negotiations for the purchase of 8,000 Unsullied.
An interesting historical fact is that in the 60-70s of the last century, when the era of hippies reigned, Cat Stevens, together with the legendary Jimi Hendrix, unwittingly turned Essaouira into a real Mecca for hippies from all over the world. Hendrix lived here for five whole years and even planned to buy an entire block for hippie tourists to live in.
Until now, this small fishing village, with a special relaxed atmosphere, is actively visited by travelers and connoisseurs of Hendrix's work.
Atlas Studios, Ouarzazate - Free Cities and Slaver's Bay
Ouarzazate is interesting to connoisseurs of good cinema in itself, apart from the films shot in this place. And this is because Atlas Studios, the world's largest film studio in terms of area, is located five kilometers from the city. 20 hectares of filming area is truly a record in the history of the film industry.
Here, in addition to the "Game of Thrones", "Gladiator", "Prince of Persia", "Babylon", "Spy Games" were filmed. And for Hollywood star Brad Pitt and cult director Ridley Scott, these places are practically a second home.
Iceland
If Daenerys (and especially Emilia Clarke) was very lucky with the climate scenario, then Jon Snow found himself in completely opposite conditions - in the harsh snows of Iceland. His enemies - the wildlings - are used to such a climate, but the "ravens" had a hard time. The only consolation during the filming is the "dragon glass" lying everywhere in the volcanic expanses of Iceland.
Gryotagya - "You Know Nothing, Jon Snow"
The picturesque grotto, where Ygritte utters his usual words for the last time - “You don’t know anything, Jon Snow”, - we are unlikely to see in the new seasons of the series. Moreover, it must be visited when traveling to Iceland.
In the real world, this place has the unpronounceable name Gryotagya. This volcanic cave is located in the northeast of the island nation near Lake Miwan. Like many other places in Iceland, the cave is characterized by the contrast of "ice and fire" - outside the cave there is always snow and ice, and in the lake itself inside the cave, the water temperature sometimes reaches 50 degrees.
Gryotagya is especially popular among tourists, especially among couples in love. The dark but indescribably beautiful place has a special romantic charm even regardless of the film, and for fans looking for romance, it seems to be something really special.
Dimmuborger - Wildling Camp
We have already said that Gryotagya Grotto is located near Lake Mivan. So, Dimmuborger lava fields directly adjoin this lake. This place fits very well into the narrative of the series, especially since in reality Dimmuborger is considered in Icelandic folklore to be extremely “bad”, a diabolical place where the very trolls, who are distinguished by their exceptional bloodthirstiness, live.
In the film, this is where the king of the Wildlings, Mance the Raider, camped.
Vatnajökull - Lands Beyond the Wall
The amazing variety of landscapes in Iceland has more than once saved the Game of Thrones crew from having to build expensive scenery. Nature itself provided fantastic landscapes for free.
So, the largest glacier in Iceland with its deserted snowy deserts easily turned into the Lands beyond the Wall. Now in Vatnajökull the tourist infrastructure is actively developing, hotels and restaurants are “breeding” for an ever-growing flow of tourists.
Hofdabrekka, Vik and Mirdalur - Frostfangs
Höfdabrekka is another extremely "hospitable" place in Iceland, where the film crew had to get stuck because of the short daylight hours - episodes could only be filmed for a couple of hours a day.
This place, with its black sand on the beach, the active Katla volcano and another glacier with the unpronounceable name Myrdalsjokull, fascinates with its cold grandeur and special infernal aesthetics.
Thingvellir National Park - Riverlands
Did you know that Iceland, like Russia, also has its own Golden Ring? Now you will know. This is the most popular tourist destination. The real gem of Iceland's Golden Circle is Thingvellir, a national park recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage site. This place is also almost sacred for every Icelander, since it was in Thingvellir that the "althing" - the people's assembly - gathered for a thousand years. In the early Middle Ages - in the year 1000 - it was here that the Icelanders adopted the Christian faith. In 1944, it was here that the country declared independence.
In the series, Thingvellir first appears in the 4th season. Episodes of the journey of Dog Clegane and his hostage companion Arya Stark were filmed here. Exactly as shown in the series, and looks like the warmest part of the summer in Iceland.
Croatia
The Lannister family has always had a characteristic feature - they have always been able to "settle" in every sense. The Starks have always lived in a permanent expectation of Winter, the proximity of which was (and is) a red thread through the entire series like a refrain. And the Lannisters with their lions always felt good in their possessions. No wonder, because in our universe these places are in sunny Croatia. And the legendary Iron Throne was erected in general in the middle of the tourist capital of Croatia, Dubrovnik.
Dubrovnik - King's Landing
Dubrovnik did not lose its status of the capital in the series at all, but on the contrary, it also strengthened it, turning into the capital of Westeros. The historical part of Dubrovnik gave the film crew great opportunities for location shooting. A well-preserved castle with a fortress wall directly resting on the sea waves is even too good a fantasy picture to be real, but this place really exists.
It is worth noting that field shooting bypassed the "wild fire".
Luckily for the local tourism board, and for the townspeople as well, the greenish frying pan that destroyed part of Stannis Baratheon's fleet was just a special effect. But what!
Lovrijenac Fortress - Red Castle
The Red Castle at the very beginning of the series was in fact in Malta, but literally from the second season, the Game of Thrones team decided to move the throne room to the capital. The Croatian fortress Lovrijenac is ideal for this. The majestic ancient building rises on a rock 37 meters high, and is only a five-minute walk from the historical part of Dubrovnik. The city and the fortress are separated by a small bay - it was here that the Battle of Chernovodnaya was filmed live.
It is worth noting an interesting fact. At the entrance to Lovrijenac, the motto of the Dubrovnik Republic is engraved - "Non Bene Pro Toto Libertas Venditur Auro" (Freedom is not sold for gold). Given the ideology of the Lannister family and the behavior of young Joffrey, this inscription looks very bizarre.
Trsteno Arboretum - King's Landing Gardens
Let's not forget that King's Landing has repeatedly flaunted in the series with its picturesque gardens. To see them in person, it is enough to visit the same Croatia, namely, the Trsteno Arboretum. It is located 10 km from Dubrovnik. Everything here will be more than recognizable for every Game of Thrones fan - gazebos, aqueducts, fountains with statues, vine-covered galleries - it was here that the lion's share of the intrigues that Tyrion and Varys wove were discussed.
Lokrum - Qarth
The small picturesque island of Lokrum in the middle of the Adriatic played a special role in the series. There Lokrum became Qarth - the same picturesque oasis city, but not in the middle of the sea, but in the middle of the desert. The local botanical garden, with its Mediterranean flora, was easily transformed into the gardens and parks of Qarth, where Daenerys and Xaro strolled.
In the "Game of Thrones" if the guards of the gates of Qarth did not let the traveler through, he remained forever in the "Garden of Bones". In our world, these places are not so uncompromising, and if for some reason a tourist did not get to Lokrum, then just a kilometer away is the same Dubrovnik, where there will definitely be something to do.
Mincheta Tower - House of the Immortals
The mysterious House of the Immortals - the headquarters of the Quartic sorcerers - in the reality of our world is literally next to the place where the Iron Throne is installed, namely, in Dubrovnik in the Minceta tower. In the film, some plots of the book were slightly changed, but in the book and in the series, the fate of the sorcerers and the visions of Daenerys coincide.
Sibenik - Braavos
A very modest Croatian resort - Sibenik - received a serious "increase" in the "Game of Thrones". It was to him that the authors of the series "entrusted" the responsible role of the richest of the Free Cities - Braavos. Sibenik as Braavos appeared only in the fifth season of the Games, but this appearance was more than spectacular.
No wonder, because it is here that the mysterious order of the Faceless is located, where Arya Stark so aspired to. And it was here that the no less mysterious Iron Bank, perhaps the most powerful organization in Westeros, also strengthened.
Split - King's Landing
From what we have already told, it becomes clear that the authors of the "Game of Thrones" literally assembled King's Landing as a constructor from various places in the real world. One of these elements was the Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia. It was there that one of the most dramatic scenes of the fifth season of the series was filmed, where Cersei was the central figure at the time of the most difficult test.
Previously, Split, or rather its suburb Žrnovica, has already appeared in an epic film. The sheer cliffs of an abandoned quarry became a film set for the scenes of Daario's battle with the champion rider of the city of Great Masters. The conquest of Meereen was also filmed here.
Klis Keep - Meereen
15 kilometers from Split there is a small medieval castle of Klis, which has never enjoyed a special love of tourists. The fortifications are dilapidated, it is difficult to get to the castle along the steep slopes, and the castle itself is so-so in terms of picturesqueness. But his appearance in the "Game of Thrones" sharply fueled tourist interest, because it was on these steep slopes that the scene of the crucifixion of the Great Masters was filmed.
Here in the fifth season, the city market of Meereen appeared. One of the viewing platforms was equipped for him.
Krka National Park - Landscapes of Westeros
"Noted" in the series and Krka National Park, giving the audience its indescribable beauty in outdoor shooting landscapes of Westeros. Many see Krka as similar to the famous Plitvice Lakes, so it's no surprise that the film crew couldn't ignore this unique place.
Picturesque waterfalls, turquoise lagoons - all this fits perfectly into the visual range of the most spectacular episodes of the series.
Ston - King's Landing
Perhaps the most rapid "career growth" thanks to the "Game of Thrones" experienced a small Croatian village of Ston, located in the south of the country. In the series, it was she who became the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. The powerful fortress wall and picturesque tiled roofs, properly "seasoned" with special effects, fit perfectly into the overall visual range of King's Landing.
It is noteworthy that even though in reality Ston is really an ordinary village, its fortress wall is quite impressive and without any special effects. In the Middle Ages, this five-kilometer rampart with five fortresses and forty towers more than once took upon itself the first blows of the Ottomans besieging the borders of the Dubrovnik Republic. At that time, they were a true reflection of the current "cine" Wildlings.
Northern Ireland
The creators of the Game of Thrones universe populated Northern Ireland mainly with the Iron Men, the harsh subjects of Balon Greyjoy. But Ireland's stunning landscapes gave the film crew a much wider opportunity. The Storm Lands, the King's Route, and Winterfell were filmed here, and in the fifth season, Hard House with the Black Castle was also filmed.
Tollymore Forest Park - Woods of the North
Tollymore Park made its debut in Game of Thrones in the very first episodes, when the Starks pick up direwolf puppies. In our world, Tollimore is as much as 630 hectares of picturesque forests with extremely successful interspersed with mountain rivers, grottoes and caves.
Some places offer colorful sea views. The team of the series more than deliberately chose these locations for filming a number of episodes, and the audience appreciated this choice.
Castle Ward - Winterfell
The opulent grounds of Ward Castle, set on the shores of Strangford Lough, graciously hosted the show's crew for filming scenes in the courtyard of Winterfell. It was here that the exciting episode of the first appearance of Robert Baratheon with his retinue was filmed.
Dark Hedges - Royal Route
The beech alley of Dark Hedges is considered by many to be the most beautiful in the world, and this universal recognition could not fail to be noticed by the Game of Thrones team, which tried in every possible way to collect all the “most-most” in the film. These trees are about three hundred years old - they were planted in the 18th century.
The then owners of Gracehill Castle conceived this project in order to make a proper impression on the guests. But the embodiment of the idea turned out to be so successful that it survived not only its authors, but also more than one generation of their descendants. And now any tourist traveling through Northern Ireland can enjoy the stunning Dark Hedges. Now this place is the most photographed in the country.
In the Game of Thrones, the alley has become part of the main transport artery of Westeros - the Royal Route. The road in the movie starts in the south at Storm's End and ends in the north at the Wall itself. For those who are "lost" in the seasons, we remind you that you can see the alley-tract in the first two seasons. It is there that Arya Stark, dressed in boyish clothes, goes to join the Night's Watch with her companions - Jaqen Hgar, Gendry and Yoren.
Murlow Bay - Iron Islands
Almost all of Theon Greyjoy's scenes on Pike, with the Iron Islands clearly visible in the background, were filmed on the shores of Murlough Bay in the northeast of Ireland.
It was the islands of Scotland that became the Iron Islands in the fantasy world of Game of Thrones.
Ballintoy Bay - Lordsport
The tiny but extremely picturesque Scottish village of Ballintoy in County Antrim has become Lordsport on the Pike in the fairy-tale world of Game of Thrones.
It was here that Theon Greyjoy, who came to his father for negotiations, went ashore. From here, Theon will leave the Iron Islands in a few episodes.
Larrybane - Stormlands
Perhaps one of the most formidable and dramatic stretches of the coast of Northern Ireland is Larrybane. It is unlikely that anyone will be left indifferent by its majestic sheer cliffs, rising directly above the sea waves. This place was directly "asked" for the role of the Stormlands in the series.
Here, the film crew unwittingly staged another geographical anomaly - in our world, from Larrybane to the village of Ballintoy (Iron Islands) you can easily walk on foot in less than an hour.
Mussenden Temple and Downhill Beach - Dragonstone
There are hardly many people who associate the coast of Northern Ireland with sandy beaches. However, such beaches do exist. One of the most notable is the 11-kilometer Downhill Beach, which the creators of the series masterfully used to film episodes on Dragonstone. Melisandre burned the old gods here.
Kushendan Caves - Stormlands
The gloomy but majestic Cushendun Caves, located in the northeast of Ireland, literally breaks into the series in the second season. Here a mystical scene unfolds with Melisandre in the title role. The sorceress lady is brought here by Davos Seaworth on Stannis' orders. Here the priestess gives rise to otherworldly monsters that can radically change the course of the war.
Magheramore - Castle Black and Harsh House
In our real world Magheramore (Magheramore) in County Antrim is not particularly “pulling” even for the status of a village. This place is more like a farm - just a few houses next to an abandoned limestone quarry. The life of this, frankly, dull place changed dramatically when, in 2014, the Game of Thrones film crew came here with Jon Snow and all the “ravens”.
For shooting scenes in the barracks of the Black Castle, the old warehouses of the quarry served perfectly. And the terrible bloody battle with the Others in the fifth season was also filmed here - on the shore of the bay. By the way, this battle was not in the book.
Malta
The island nation of Malta has made an impressive contribution with its sights to the creation of the most popular and expensive series of our time. The country of palaces, forts and fortresses was just perfect for shooting a series of dramatic and colorful episodes. In addition, the local authorities went out of their way to assist the producers and the film crew - the country is heavily dependent on tourism, and such a chance to attract guests from all over the world should not be missed. It even got to the point that the president himself provided a personal residence for filming - this is an absolutely unprecedented fact that deserves respect.
Mdina Gate - King's Landing Gate
The ancient capital of Malta, Mdina, dates back more than 4,000 years from its foundation. What kingdoms and empires have not “housed” here for four millennia.
All this historical and cultural heritage left a lot of traces of its existence - medieval cathedrals, fortress walls, ancient buildings - all this served as the most fruitful basis for shooting the most important episodes of the Game of Thrones. In the center of several of them, the main attraction of Mdina appeared - the city gates, which in the series became the gates of the capital of Westeros.
Fort Ricasoli - Red Castle
Fort Ricasoli was built in the 17th century by the Knights Hospitaller. The fortress survived more than one siege and more than one battle in antiquity. Even in the 20th century, she got hard during the Second World War. Having survived about 3000 raids by enemy bombers in two years of siege, Malta has earned the infamous reputation of being one of the most bombarded territories in World War II.
The fort is still in a deplorable state, and tourists are not allowed there for their own safety. But the film crew of "Game of Thrones" nevertheless obtained permission to work within the walls of the fort, thus giving the audience a unique opportunity to still see how the fortress works inside. Earlier, however, the fortress has already appeared in such blockbusters as "Gladiator" and "Troy". In Game of Thrones, Fort Ricasoli acted as the Red Castle.
Azure Window - Daenerys and Drogo's wedding
Malta gave the series another scenic location to film a more than impressive spectacle - the wedding of Daenerys and Khal Drogo at the very beginning of the fictional narrative. The events took place on the island of Gozo in the vicinity of a 50-meter rocky arch, which is of natural origin.
This arch was once called the "Azure Window" and since ancient times it has been one of the most recognizable symbols of Malta.
It is noteworthy that more than one epic film was filmed here. It is worth remembering at least the “Battle of the Titans” and “Odyssey” by Konchalovsky.
Verdala Palace - Pentos, home of Illyrio Mopatis
Finally, we got to perhaps the funniest, if not in the series, then on its set for sure. Namely, to the summer residence of the President of Malta, which the head of state kindly provided at the disposal of the film crew.
One of the first scenes of the series was filmed here, when Daenerys and her brother Viserys are visiting Illyrio Mopatis, the “pimp” who introduced the last Targaryens to Daenerys’ fiancé Khal Drogo. In ordinary life in Malta, a simple tourist cannot get inside the palace, but the authorities allow you to walk around the garden.
San Anton Palace - Red Castle
The Verdala Palace is not the only residence of the Maltese President that was “occupied” by the Game of Thrones team during filming. The group even managed to agree on a temporary "lease" of the official residence of the president, which is located in Attard within the walls of the San Anton Palace. The palace is featured in the scene where Littlefinger and Varys are trying to convince Eddard Stark that the Golden Shrouds are completely subservient to him.
True, they were not allowed to shoot the presidential chambers - only outside the building.
Fort Sant'Angelo - Catacombs of the Red Castle
The fortress of Sant'Angelo in the city of Birgu used to be called the "Sea Castle". When exactly it was built, no one has really been able to determine so far. However, historically it is known that in the Middle Ages the fort served as the residence of the Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller.
A very impressive episode was filmed here with Arya chasing a cat through the Red Castle and eventually ending up in a cave with dragon skulls.
Fort Manoel - Great Sept of Baelor
The medieval Fort Manoel, owned by the Knights of Malta, once did a good job of guarding the entrance to the harbor of Marsamxett. In the fantasy world of the series, Manoel became the Great Sept of Baelor.
The steps of the fort also filmed the most poignant climactic scene of the first season with Sean Bean in the center of the frame.
Scotland
If the lion's share of the impressive scenes of the Game of Thrones was filmed in Northern Ireland, then very close, in Scotland, only one set was equipped. However, she also played an important role in the film.
Doune Castle - Winterfell
The medieval fortress of Doune, which belonged hundreds of years ago to the Stuart dynasty, is located near Stirling. These places at one time became famous for the battles for the independence of Scotland, in which William Wallace became famous, the same one who is “Braveheart”. Long before becoming Winterfell, the castle featured "starring" in the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Now the fortress is in a very sad state, in many ways unwittingly reflecting the fate of Winterfell itself.
USA
Los Angeles
In the seventh episode of the third season of Game of Thrones - The Bear and the Fair Maiden, due to legal restrictions and the difficulties of transporting large animals, scenes with the bear Baby Bart had to be filmed in a studio in Los Angeles. Although the location was only intended for filming one scene, it was the fifth country where the series was filmed during the season (after Northern Ireland, Morocco, Croatia and Iceland).
Conclusion
Filming the epic saga, which has long become a cult among the most diverse categories of viewers, the film crew traveled half the world. But the series did not end there - filming is underway, and no one can say exactly when the creators of the outstanding show will decide to wrap up the project. Therefore, we are sure that more than one place will appear on the world map, opening an imaginary portal to the fantastic world of the Game of Thrones.
In the world of "Game of Thrones" even the most ardent fan of the series and books by George Martin would not want to settle. Hardly anyone dreams of being a guest at the Red Wedding or even a spectator in the arena for fights. But thanks to HBO's Game of Thrones, fans of the saga can take a trip to a completely peaceful, cozy and beautiful Westeros. In this guide, we'll show you how to find King's Landing and Winterfell, Braavos and the Frozen Wall... right on the map of Europe.
I want to go see the Wall we've heard so much about... stand on top of the Wall and blast off the edge of the world.
Tyrion Lannister, first tourist of the Seven Kingdoms
George Martin stylized his world like the real Middle Ages. Many events of the saga have earthly prototypes, as well as geographical objects like the Wall. The creators of the series "Game of Thrones" followed the same principle. On the map of Europe, there were many remnants of the Middle Ages, which are ideal for creating a historical flavor. This could hardly have been achieved with bare special effects and studio sets alone.
Vasteras is Croatia
It's easy to see how much the capital city of King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, is different in the first and second seasons. At first, Ned Stark unraveled palace intrigues on the streets of the cities of Malta - a country that has long been chosen by filmmakers and has a developed film infrastructure. Gladiator, Troy and dozens of other Hollywood blockbusters were filmed here. However, the Maltese scenery suffered (if it can suffer) from excessive sophistication. By the second season, the creators of "Game of Thrones" began to search for a more suitable nature.
Strong walls of ancient fortresses, narrow streets that smell of old times, dense buildings of stone houses... Almost all over Europe, such places have sunk into the past, giving way to modern avenues, but in Croatia, the historical centers of almost every town look like this. Not surprisingly, this country has seduced HBO's recruiters. It is with Croatia that the world of Westeros and Essos is now firmly associated in the eyes of fans of the saga.
Having let a film crew onto their land, the Croatian authorities did not imagine how it would turn out. In a couple of years, Game of Thrones has become a popular franchise, and Croatia has begun a tourist boom, like in New Zealand during the days of The Lord of the Rings. A country devastated in the Balkan conflict twenty years ago suddenly gained attractiveness as a resort rich in picturesque beaches and history going back centuries - real earthly and fictional Westeros.
Over 13 million tourists visited Croatia in 2014, almost 20% more than in 2010, when Game of Thrones was unheard of.
The Croats clung to the franchise with all their hands and feet and created maximum favored treatment for the film crew. For example, when the local church tried to ban the filming of Queen Cersei's walk near the temples of Dubrovnik (that very naked walk!), The secular authorities of the city quickly resolved the issue in favor of the creators of the series.
King's Landing is Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is the pearl of the Adriatic coast. Previously, a tourist was drawn there for architectural monuments, now - also for the flavor of King's Landing, hidden ... in the same monuments. In the Old Town, you will often see advertisements inviting you to take a tour of the filming locations. The tour is usually led by one of the many Croats who starred in the extras. Do not be surprised if you meet a respectable lady on a walk through the picturesque Gradac park, telling tourists how King Joffrey died right on this square.
Where exactly is it worth visiting in Dubrovnik? First of all, you need to climb the walls of the Old City and walk two kilometers along the perimeter, admiring the famous tiled roofs. Thousands of tourists do this, but you draw the Red Castle over the city with a mental program for creating special effects. And here you are standing next to Tyrion, casting anxious glances at Blackwater Bay, from where Stannis's troops are about to descend ...
On the other side of the bay, on a monolithic rock, stands the fortress of Lovrenjak (St. Lawrence) - a stronghold of the 11th century that protected the city from invaders from Venice. Add a little medieval drapery to its bare stone walls and you've got a playground for Joffrey's name day tournament and a dozen more interior scenes. For filming, the team of the series did not have to splurge on complex studio scenery - they were donated by the city itself.
Do not deny yourself the pleasure of walking around the Old Town. Enter the Pyla Gate with one-armed Jaime, who has returned to King's Landing from captivity. Look to the left, to the area against the wall where Gregor Clegane was chopping heads. Pass along the street of St. Dominic, where at the door of the monastery of the same name a street preacher called for the overthrow of the Lannisters. Climb the Jesuit stairs with a waiter from a nearby cafe, and upstairs, at the "Sept of Baelor" (the church of St. Ignatius), you may be met by a few young "sparrows" in cassocks.
Is the Narrow Sea so narrow? Residents of Dubrovnik joke that yes - only 650 meters wide. This is how much the Old Town separates from the island-reserve Lokrum, where the Qarta gardens from the second season were filmed. Before the earthquake of 1667, there was a Benedictine monastery here, and now peacocks and rabbits walk on its picturesque ruins. The Dubrovnik City Hall intends to open a Game of Thrones exhibition park at Lokrum, so there will soon be another reason to visit here.
Do not be too lazy to go north, where the town of Trsteno is located 30 kilometers from Dubrovnik. In the 15th century, the influential Gucetic family built a garden here with stone pavilions, aqueducts and fountains. Visiting sailors brought them seeds of overseas plants to replenish the collection. And in Westeros, in the same stone pavilions, Grandma Olenna snarled at breakfast, in the shade of trees Cersei and Varys wove intrigues, and at the fountain Oberyn wrote letters to his homeland.
If you show perseverance and, going down to the very sea, enter an inconspicuous archway, you will find yourself on a court with badminton markings, where Jaime trained with the mercenary Bronn to fencing with the left. It was not for nothing that they chose this place for secret training. It's hard to find her in real life.
Jaime's training ground is actually a badminton court
Not every location gives the film crew a ready-made medieval romance. Sometimes virtuoso decorators have to perform a real miracle. Before the Balkan war of the 1990s, the Belvedere, located two kilometers south of Dubrovnik, was an elite five-star hotel and was bursting with guests. Arriving in it now, you will see devastation and a lot of graffiti, and instead of tourists you will be met only by a lonely meowing kitten. But, looking closer, you can still easily recognize the very arena where you gouged out the eyes of one Dornishman with a greatly inflated conceit.
In 2014, Belvedere was bought by Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg with the expectation of rebuilding and repopulating it. Its relation to the Game of Thrones is unknown, but if a lion and a deer take over the site of the graffiti, it will certainly increase the attractiveness of the hotel.
god of boobs and wine
Peter Dinklage did not shame the honor of his hero - Tyrion. Before the start of filming the second season, he met Australian tourists in Dubrovnik and went to drink at a brotherhood in their hostel. The next morning, the actor woke up on a couch in the lobby, and no one could remember who he was and where he came from: neither the hotel staff nor the Australians themselves. But the empty minibar seemed to hint that someone had to pay, and Dinklage had to take the rap for the whole company.
Now the Fresh Sheets hostel management is proud of this incident and even hung up a commemorative plaque: “ Tyrion Lannister slept here (more precisely, he passed out here). Welcome to King's Landing!»
Daenerys' Domain in Split
By the beginning of the fourth season, the film crew became attached to Croatia, and when it came time to choose locations for Meereen - the city under the shadow of the pyramids, where Daenerys was to rule for two whole seasons - the eyes turned to the north of Dubrovnik.
In Split, the second largest city in the country, the historical center is even older than the Middle Ages: the vast palace complex of Emperor Diocletian has been perfectly preserved since ancient Rome. The stones here are completely different in color and structure than in Dubrovnik, and therefore Meereen looks very different from King's Landing, although in the real world there are only two hundred kilometers between them. Having bought a ticket to the palace, immediately go to its western wing. There you can easily recognize the pen for naughty dragons - their "dining room", where they feasted on wise masters - and the gallery where Ser Barristan fought the Sons of the Harpy.
On the mountain to the northeast of the city lies the fortress of Klis, founded in the 3rd century BC by an ancient tribe of Illyrians (not related to Master Illyrio). It looks impregnable, but in fact the fortress was taken by storm by the Tatar-Mongols, the Turks, and the Venetians. Daenerys followed tradition when she captured Meereen. Klis dominates the surroundings and captivates with its unusual architecture. Here you can not only wander along the walls of Meereen, but also appreciate the breathtaking view of Split and the Adriatic Sea.
By the fifth season, Croatia managed to accommodate another large location - Braavos. In search of this home of canals and bridges, head 10 kilometers west of Split to Kaštel Gomilica, a tiny 16th-century coastal town. Curiously, there is only one bridge here (albeit a long one), and instead of a grandiose canal, there is a small parking lot for boats. But this does not prevent you from feeling the spirit of Braavos in every stone tower, every wave that beats against the walls of medieval buildings.
Location shooting of this free city was carried out in two more places: at the abandoned Zagreb Hotel in Split (where a mock-up of the entrance to the Black and White House was erected) and on the square near the Cathedral of St. James in Sibenik (where fat Mace Tyrell practiced chants). If you know the real geography, it's very funny when watching the series to watch how the characters "teleport" from one city to another.
Iceland - land of ice and fire
Iceland for its "alien" landscapes has long been chosen by filmmakers: in this country there is a piece of "Interstellar", "Prometheus" and "Oblivion", "Noah" and "Batman Begins", "Thor 2" and "Lara Croft". In the "Game of Thrones" this country appeared from the second season, when the heroes went on a campaign through the icy lands beyond the Wall. To recreate the camp of the king of the wildlings and the imposing Frostfangs, Iceland - a land of glaciers, snowy deserts and excellent filming infrastructure - fit perfectly. It is no less suitable for visiting: in fact, this country is completely geared towards tourism.
The camp of the wildlings, where Jon Snow ends up at the beginning of the third season, was built near one of the natural phenomena of Iceland - the shallow lake Myvatn, which was formed 2300 years ago after the eruption of the Krafla volcano. The same volcano gave birth to bizarre layers of lava (Dimmuborgir Park), and stone columns sticking straight out of the water (Höfdi), among which the wildlings walked.
For a special experience, head to Grötagja Cave next door. The crystal clear water inside the cave, due to the hot spring, reaches a temperature of 50ºС - as soon as Jon Snow and Ygritte didn't get scalded while swimming? By the way, the surrounding signs insistently ask you not to swim in Gryotagya (or better not to go inside at all because of the danger of collapse), although there were no such precautions before filming the episode “Kissed by Fire”. Probably, our bathing heroes broke something there ...
In the fourth season, we were finally able to admire summer Iceland, in the scenery of which Dog and Brienne mutuzed each other, Littlefinger walked Sansa, and Stir (Yuri Kolokolnikov) raided the village. In the geography of Westeros, these places are very far from each other, but they were all filmed in the vicinity of the Thingvellir National Park, located 30 kilometers east of Reykjavik and falling into all tourist guides.
The park lies on the fault of two lithospheric plates - North American and Eurasian. The canyon between two mountain ranges is monolithic and impregnable - what you need to recreate the Valley of the Arrynes. It is only necessary to finish the Bloody Gates with special effects and place the crossbowmen on the tops of the ridges.
Most castles are in Northern Ireland
Most of the series was filmed in Northern Ireland. But tourists are not allowed to see the interiors of the Red Keep and the Great Sept of Baelor, see the Moon Door in the Eagle's Nest and Daenerys' throne room in Meereen. These and dozens of other locations were filmed behind closed doors at Paint Hall Studios in Belfast. Unless you're Queen Elizabeth II, who was itching to get a better look at the Iron Throne, you're off the hook.
But even so, Northern Ireland is worth a visit. There are so many memorable places here and they are so widely scattered along the eastern coast of the country that you need to prepare for a multi-day sightseeing tour. Fortunately, it’s impossible to get lost here: there are even signs on the roads like “Welcome to Ballintoy Bay, which is also the harbor of the Iron Islands.” And a photo of Theon Greyjoy in the local surroundings - as proof.
Usually tourists like it when the weather is clear and sunny, but the abandoned Magheramorn Quarry, half an hour north of Belfast, is better to visit in the fog. Here the scenery of the Black Castle at the Wall was erected; right next door, the last stronghold of the wildlings from the "Hard House" series was rebuilt. And the silhouettes of white walkers riding dead stallions, which you will imagine on top of the sheer wall of the quarry, will give this visit a special poignancy.
If you only have a day left and want to get the most out of it, feel free to head south from Belfast to Ward Castle. Filming here has been going on for six seasons in a row, and the area is changing as its on-screen counterpart, Winterfell, changes. The owners of Ward Castle are happy to host tourists and offer them "throne" attractions: for example, you can shoot a bow in the Winterfell backyard.
At the local information center, be sure to take a map of hiking routes in the vicinity of the castle with marked points. Here Bran fell from the tower, there Tywin camped, and here King Robert had a picnic with Ned Stark.
It would take more than one article to describe the serial places in Northern Ireland, so we will briefly dwell on the most striking ones. Beach lovers are advised to visit Downhill Beach in the north of the country, where Melisandre burned the idols of the Andal gods, and then look at neighboring Portstewart. It's cold to swim there, but it's just right to fight the Dornish guardsmen, which Jaime and Bronn tested on themselves in the fifth season.
A little to the east, near the town of Armoy, there is a dark beech alley called Dark Hedges - one of the most photographed places in the country. In the series, she portrayed the Royal Route. In the southern part of Northern Ireland, look into the gloomy but picturesque forest park of Tollimore: it was here that a dead direwolf was found, Bran met the Reed family, and walkers attacked the lookouts in the prologue of the first series.
Spain: Season Five and Beyond
Game of Thrones only came to Spain in 2014, when the creators needed to shoot some exotic southern locations. All of them fell on the southern region of the country, Andalusia. Here you can see the legendary Alcazar of Seville, which embodied Dorn in the TV series, admire the Roman bridge in Cordoba - the on-screen Volantis, visit the Plaza de Toros arena in the town of Osuna, where Daenerys staged fights with gladiators and dragons.
At first it was a compact tourist route that could be covered in a day and a half. But it's growing fast. Spain hooked the creators of the series with something - perhaps favorable conditions for filming or the pristine old buildings. When it was necessary to refresh the visuals and add new southern locations, the Game of Thrones came to Spain again - it seems, in earnest and for a long time.
Among the new locations is a lonely fortress on a rock in the middle of the plain in the town of Campillo de Dueñas, the prototype of the Dornish Tower of Joy. In the sixth season, we saw her in a flashback vision of Bran.
The town of Peñiscola in the Valencia region also attracted the attention of the creators, where the Knights Templar built an extremely photogenic castle in the 13th century, which has been perfectly preserved to this day. Now the city of Meereen has found its new home in it. Filming also took place in the desert of Bardenas Reales (Navarre), where a Dothraki nomad camp was recreated for Daenerys' new adventures.
And in the old quarters of Catalan Girona, scenes from Braavos and King's Landing were filmed: a theatrical performance on Plaça Dels Jurats, the Tramp chasing Arya through the narrow medieval streets and a grandiose confrontation between the "sparrows" and Jaime on a white horse in front of the Girona Cathedral.
Where else was Game of Thrones filmed?
- The Azure Window on the island of Gozo (Malta), against which the wedding of Khal Drogo and Daenerys played, and a dozen other Maltese locations from the first season.
- Fort Essaouira in Morocco, where the powerful lords of Astapor showed Daenerys the army of the Unsullied.
- Doune Castle in Scotland - Winterfell in the pilot episode of the first season. It was then re-shot, and Scotland was almost gone in the final version.
- Studio in Los Angeles, where Harrenhall's fighting pit was built. American laws prevented the removal of a bear named Bart from Northern Ireland.
If you have gathered in the places of military glory of the Starks and Lannisters. Make a route plan in advance and mark the points you want to visit. Find out what scenes were filmed there and refresh your impression by revisiting them. Many locations are hidden from view or not obvious. You may not realize that you have already come to the right place and this cozy platform with a stone table is the one where Ser Dontos gave Sansa a necklace with a surprise.
If you are sick of planning everything, book a tour at one of the local information centers. The guide will not only take you to all the interesting places, but also show you photos so that you can compare the picture from the movie and the view that opens in reality. Walking with a guide around Dubrovnik will take about three hours; in Northern Ireland, due to the distances, you will have to take a bus tour - for a day, or even several.
If you have gathered at the places of military glory in the midst of filming the new season. Not the best idea. In recent years, the security service has become much stricter. Because of the filming, the authorities of the city-location can easily block access to half of the historical center, and you will only have to admire the trucks with props. You most likely won’t even get into the castles themselves - the cashier at the entrance will say: “They are renting something there, so keep a ticket to half the palace for half the price.”
But if you still want to, the shooting of the season usually goes from August to November. The movement of the film crew can be tracked on fan sites such as watchersonthewall.com. You certainly won't do without the Westeros flavor: in street cafes you will certainly meet extras who dine right in stage costumes. And over the ancient walls of the city, the flag of the Lannisters or Targaryens will fly up.
Game of Thrones Museum
Do you want to see with your own eyes Joffrey's crown and Margaery's wedding dress, Jaime's severed hand and the white walker's icy blade, or even sit on the real Iron Throne? Every year, for the release of the new season, a traveling exhibition of "Game of Thrones" opens, where everyone can see the props of the series: weapons and armor, jewelry, outfits and iconic items.
The museum makes stops in major cities in Europe and America: for example, in 2015, he visited London, Stockholm, Madrid, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Berlin and Comic-Con in San Diego.
Often at the exhibition you can see props that have not yet been lit up on the screen. So, even before the release of the fifth season, the public was shown the harpy masks, the weapons of Oberyn's daughters and the "snake package" that Cersei received from Dorne. Visitors are also entertained with virtual reality attractions: you will experience a lot of thrills, climbing the Wall in a creaky elevator, surveying the mesmerizing landscapes ... and head over heels down the top of the tower. Sometimes actors drop in here, most often Liam Cunningham (Davos) and John Bradley (Sam).
The exhibition travels around the world from February to June. For information on when and where to fish, check out gotexhibit.com. But be patient to stand in the three-hour queue. Entrance to the museum is usually free, and there are more and more fans of the Game of Thrones every year.
So, one of the objects that are simply obligatory to visit if you are in Seville is the Alcazar of Seville, a former Moorish fortress-fort, which was expanded many times during the reign of the Moors and completed and remodeled during the period of Spanish rule. The fortress itself is smaller than the Granada Alhambra, which I have already told, but there are no less examples of the magnificent Mudéjar style and, of course, I liked the gardens much more, not to mention the Martells who lived here at the behest of the director) But, to the Martells and Dorn we we'll be back, but now let's take a little walk around the lovely fortress.
The first place we get when entering the Alcazar is a small covered courtyard
Here, in a small covered gallery, a collection of fans from all eras and countries was exhibited) A few samples that I photographed:
Well, even though the heat was conducive to fanning, we could only admire them and continue our journey through the fortress. The oldest room of the Alcazar is the Hall of Justice, under Muslim rule the Council of Viziers gathered here, but Alfonso XI, after the conquest, remade the hall as a symbol of victory over the Muslims.
And, of course, such beloved azulejos
King Pedro I killed his half-brother Don Fadrique in this hall, and Don Fadrique's twin Enrique later killed King Pedro I and crowned himself King Enrique II of Castile. Truly a hall of justice, isn't it? According to legend, it was after the murder of Don Fadrike that his blood gave this fountain a slightly pinkish tint.
Simply amazingly elegant wooden ceiling
And just a stunning combination of azulejos with stone carvings of the finest work
Through a small courtyard we get to the palace of Pedro I
The Admiral's rooms, like most of the Alcazar building, except for the Hall of Justice already described above and the courtyard adjacent to it, were not built under the Almohads, but mainly during the reign of Pedro I, who gathered Moorish artisans from different parts of Spain. According to one version, paradoxically, the ruler of Granada, Mohammed V, also sent his artisans in exchange for the military support of the king (support from whom is not entirely clear)) and either thanks to his artisans, or to convicts who worked here on one of the azulejos above the entrance to The palace flaunts the inscription in Arabic "There is no winner but Allah." However, the Admiral's rooms themselves, with the exception of the ceiling, reflect little of the Mudéjar style.
And here is the stunning starry ceiling
Here's what the stars look like up close.
But such luxurious stairs, lined with azulejos and decorated with tapestries, lead to the second floor.
A small hunting yard, exactly the same azulejos decorated the Myrtle Court of the Alhambra
And again mukarna, though not so obvious and colorful
Lobby
The ceiling is very beautiful, but unfortunately my camera did not capture it, photo from net (http://funkystock.photoshelter.com)
Another wonderful ceiling of Dev's patio
The next room is the Royal Alcove, with stunning pseudo-windows
And, probably, the most luxurious Hall of Ambassadors
The name of the room was also perfect for the Game of Thrones - this is where the Martells received Jaime Lanister)
Here, Areo Hotah has a "heartfelt" conversation with Ellaria Sand
By the way, it is interesting that Siddig Alexander, who played Doran Martell, was filmed here in Ridley Scott's film Kingdom of Heaven as Imad. And Nicholas Coster-Waldau and Ian Glen also played in the Kingdom of Heaven, but they didn’t get into the Alcazar) Such are the parallels between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Game of Thrones) And here are a few scenes from the Kingdom of Heaven, also filmed in the Alcazar
Well, if the Martells or Lannisters admired the ceiling, they would see such magnificence
And ornate arches
And more pseudo-windows in neighboring rooms
Well, during the period when the Martels did not receive guests, they apparently rested in the Water Gardens)
Or confessed their love
We will follow their example, there is no confession of love, but rest)
The gardens of the Alcazar were such an outlet in the sultry Seville that we wandered around them for about three hours, completely forgetting about everything, including the camera, and we don’t regret it at all. Periodically, when moving from one garden to another, but here they are all called the Flower Garden, the Prince's Yard, the Mercury Pond Garden, etc., everything is very poetic, we found ourselves in different small pavilions also tiled. The culture of gardens with fountains and tiles, roses, arches and trees was brought to Spain by the Moors, whose gardens were called upon to personify paradise in a sultry climate. We wandered through the paradise gardens of the Almohads and the water gardens of the Martells and went on to walk around Seville, drinking granizados and enjoying the lovely Sevillan women in holiday dresses.
PS: Since we're off to the Game of Thrones - remember my post about Cordoba and the Roman bridge over the Guadalquivir? Here he is in the role of the Long Bridge of Volantis)
Let's go on a journey in the footsteps of the heroes of our favorite series
The team of the series traveled half the world in search of the most picturesque places for film sets. We invite fans of the film to follow in their footsteps. What is needed for this? Buy airline tickets, book places in hotels - and we're going to travel. Today we are going to Spain, Znayu invites you on a trip.
Spain debuted only in the fifth season of Game of Thrones, but immediately in the title role. Seville on the screens turned into the capital of Dorne, and the town of Osuna, halfway to Malaga - Daenerys dragons flew over its bullring.
1. Peniscola - Meereen
The Spanish village of Peñiscola is a narrow sandy spit that leads to an island where a majestic castle from the time of the Templars was established. The medieval fortress rises as if directly from the sea, like a volcanic island. In Game of Thrones, Peñiscola, richly seasoned with special effects, played the role of Meereen and Dorn.
2. Almerian fortress - Dorne
In the sixth season of the series, another attraction of southern Spain will debut - the Alcazaba in Almeria. The fortress has already passed for a thousand years, and during this time it passed from hand to hand dozens of times. In 2016, she was in the power of the Martell dynasty - the rulers of Dorne.
3. Bardenas Reales - Dothraki Sea
The mesmerizing desert scenery of the Bardenas Reales Natural Park in northern Spain is the perfect setting for Game of Thrones. In the sixth season of the series, the Dothraki Sea will stretch here, where Daenerys will meet with a hostile khalasar.
4. Safra Castle - Tower of Joy
The tower of the fortress of Safra in the province of Guadalajara once divided the border between the Christian and Muslim territories of Spain. In the universe of A Song of Ice and Fire, the Tower of Joy rises in the middle of the Red Mountains on the border of the Reach and Dorne.
5. Castle of St. Florentine - Horn Hill
The elegant castle of St. Florentine in the "Game of Thrones" got the role of the stronghold of the house of Tarly, where Sam was born. The castle is amazingly beautiful and definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in Barcelona or the Costa Brava - even if you are not a fan of IP.
6. Alcazar of Seville - Water Gardens, Dorne
In the fifth season, cinematic magic has transformed the beautiful Alcazar of Seville into the Water Gardens, the luxurious country estate of the Martells. In the gardens and pools of the palace, young Sand Snakes frolic, while adults weave intrigues in the cool marble halls.
7. Bullring in Osuna - Meereen Arena
The climactic scene of the ninth episode of the fifth season was filmed in the bullring in Osuna. Series producer D. B. Weiss admitted that the scene took 17 days to shoot - and that's not including post-production and special effects. Tourists and Game of Thrones fans have been coming to Osuna since the show's 5th season aired. The owners of the local restaurant immediately got their bearings and changed the names of the dishes on the menu to "Khalisi", "Melisandra" and "Jon Snow".
8. Roman Bridge, Cordoba - Long Bridge, Volantis
The largest of the Free Cities in Game of Thrones was Cordoba, and its magnificent Roman Bridge served as the crew's Long Bridge. And although the Spanish river Guadalquivir is several times smaller than the fictional Roina, the magic of cinema changes everything.