Making a comprehensive list of film locations can be a daunting task. But we can provide a few ideas that will inspire you to plan your next getaway or day out. Please remember that the regions around Barcelona boast a large number of castles, an alluring heritage that has been recognised by film location experts in the audiovisual industry throughout the ages.

This was the opinion of the producers of the Game of Thrones series, who chose Santa Florentina Castle (Canet de Mar) to shoot several scenes in the series. Specifically, it can be seen in episode six of the sixth season, entitled “Blood of My Blood”. On screen, we saw it turned into Horn Hill, the stronghold of House Tarly, the lineage of Sam, Jon Snow's faithful friend.

If you visit the Santa Florentina Castle today, you will not find any of the lords of Westeros, but you will discover a fortress that dates back to the 11th century and was refurbished to become a gem of Art Nouveau architecture by Lluís Domènech i Montaner.

Cardona is one of the most popular castles in Catalonia. Orson Welles chose the gorgeous collegiate church of Sant Miquel as the setting for his unique Shakespeare adaptation in Chimes at Midnight, one of the most well-known films by this genius. Other historical films have also been shot in this fortress, such as La spada normanna (The Norman Sword) and L'arciere di fuoco (The Sherwood Archer), both from 1971.

If you decide to visit Cardona Castle, you will discover a fortress that has never been conquered by force and boasts twelve centuries of history. It was built around the year 880 and was the last Austrian stronghold in the war of 1714. Of course, the visit can be combined with a walk through the Salt Mountain Cultural Park.

Beaches and mountains

However, the regions around Barcelona have not only caught the attention of film and TV series directors for their castles. If you want another example of Modernisme, you can visit the Joventut Catòlica cinema in Molins de Rei, where Pedro Almodóvar set some scenes from his film Bad Education. This venue is also home to Terror Molins, a horror film festival with a track record of more than three decades.

Montserrat is a classic destination, but you can see it with new eyes if you are familiar with the film Bruc. La llegenda, a unique way to learn about the history of the Bruc Drummer.

If you enjoy inland tourism, you cannot miss the settings of one of the greatest Catalan blockbusters of recent years: Pa negre (Black Bread) by Agustí Villaronga. Where will you find the locations? In central Catalonia, you can start your tour in Tavertet, where the well-known scene of the horse falling down the cliffs was filmed. Berguedà also appears in some sequences, specifically Sant Climent de l'Espunyola and Colònia Vidal. The atmosphere of this complex is so genuine that, upon visiting, you will be taken back to the lives workers led at the beginning of the last century. If you are looking for an immersive experience, you can book a room at Puig de la Balma (Mura), a 12th-century estate boasting twenty-six generations of history that will leave you flabbergasted, even if you have already seen it in the film. 

Barcelona's beaches also boast a long tradition as film locations. Vicente Aranda made his big screen debut with Brillante porvenir (Bright Future), the first film to be shown in Castelldefels' cinemas. If you are looking for a more recent location, ​​​​​Mataró beach was the setting for scenes from Mediterráneo (Mediterranean) with Eduard Fernández and Dani Rovira. Another coastal landmark is​​​​​​​ Sitges, which is the starting point for the comedy El pregón (The Opening Address) starring Berto Romero and Andreu Buenafuente.

Of course, Barcelona itself has also been the setting for many films. One of the most recent was Uncharted, which featured Montjuïc prominently. However, the city also remembers visits from other major productions, such as Perfume, with locations in the Gothic Quarter and other parts of Ciutat Vella, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona.