There is no other region in Spain where films are at its core than Almeria, one of the great destinations during your holidays. Its contrasting landscapes have been the setting for over 500 films in the last 60 years, from the dry lands of Tabernas to the rugged mountains with luscious vegetation, going through its coasts, cliffs and virgin beaches such as Cabo de Gata.
Almeria was the setting of the legendary spaghetti westerns by Sergio Leone, which marked a landmark in the Western Genre. However, if we look back we cannot ignore five of the most relevant movies that were filmed here:
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962) by David Lean: most of the scenes were filmed in the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata and in the Tabernas desert. The highlights of this epic film were the building of the city of Aqaba on the Algarrobico beach, in the municipality of Carboneras.
- Cleopatra (1962) by Joseph L. Mankiewicz: The dunes of Cabo de Gata and Tabernas were chosen for the filming, which lasted no more than 16 days.
- Patton (1970) by Franklin j. Schaffner: The famous battle of Guettar was filmed in the Rambla del Búho in the Tabernas Desert.
- Never Say Never (1983) by Irvin Kershner: During 4 weeks the scenes were filmed for one of the most popular titles in the James Bond saga, including the underwater scenes in Los Escullos and Palmar beach, scenes on the palm woods of Cabo de Gata and in the tunnel of the road of Aguadulce.
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) by Steven Spielberg: In the last release of this famous saga certain areas of the capital were modified upon the request of its director such as the Alcazaba.
Currently, the region is still the ideal setting for great American film directors including Ridley Scott. The director of Blade Runner filmed at the end of last year his last film Exodus: Gods and Kings, about the life of Moses, which will be released in cinemas in December this year. This awaited super production was filmed between Alhamilla Mountains and Tabernas desert. In this last location, particularly the Buho Plain, was where the great battle was filmed.
Ridley Scott and its team enjoyed the modern and confortable facilities of our hotel in Almeria, Elba Almeria Business & Convention Hotel, during the filming of the movie. Posteriorly, the production team moved to the Canary Islands, where they also enjoyed another of our fabulous hotels, Elba Palace Golf & Vital Hotel in Fuerteventura.
Elba Hotels are always at the service of great audio-visual productions in Almeria.