The water gardens of Dorne from the television series Game of Thrones. Through the water gardens of the dorn or the alcazar of Seville Water gardens of the dorn

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)

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 fan tourists 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 Marrakech 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. Here everything 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 pass, 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 Road

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 Cloaks should be 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.

The water gardens of Dorne from the television series Game of Thrones are not expensive studio sets, but centuries-old picturesque palaces and colorful parks of Spanish Seville. One glance at all this luxury and beauty is enough to understand why the Lannisters were so interested in establishing relations with the Martells. So let's take a look behind the scenes.

A real fever swept the world from the very first series of "Game of Thrones" - a television adaptation of the cycle of novels "A Song of Ice and Fire" by American writer George Martin. However, a gripping storyline is just one of the components of success. When choosing locations for filming, the creators of the TV project, David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, paid attention to the uniqueness and originality of a particular place that conveys a certain emotional atmosphere. Thus, for example, the water gardens of Dorn are not expensive studio decorations, but centuries-old picturesque palaces and colorful parks of Alcázar de Sevilla - the royal alcazar of Spanish Seville.

Doran Martell and Ellaria Sand during a heated conversation. The lush gardens of the Alcazar provide the right fairy tale setting for the film.

Gardens with history

The amazing gardens around the Alcazar are arranged in terraces, filled with silence and comfort. This magnificent garden and park complex consists of several independent gardens: the garden of Mercury, the garden of the Marquis de la Vega Inclan, the Great Garden, the garden of the Cross, the garden of Galera, the garden of Troy, the Orange Grove, the garden of Flowers, the garden of Poets, the Labyrinth and others. The gardens were laid out here in the 9th century, during the Arab rule, and have changed throughout their history. Thus, in their appearance there are features of many styles - Moorish, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque. The gardens are located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, which A.S. Pushkin. It is the only navigable river to the city of Seville. In the garden and park ensemble, stemming from the Mediterranean culture, a wide variety of styles were mixed, depending on the moods and preferences of the kings who built their residences here. The upper chambers of the Alcazar are still used by the royal family as the official residence in Seville.

The mixture of Moorish architecture and colorful mosaics with Arabic ornaments has become a defining feature of the Alcazar's appearance. Sculptural elements, like this fountain, attract attention with their sophistication.

Before you get to, enjoy the architecture of the Alcazar of Seville - an ensemble of royal palaces with a thousand-year history. The modern appearance of the Alcazar began to take shape at the beginning of the 8th century, after the conquest of Seville by the Arabs. In the 11th and 12th centuries, craftsmen from Toledo and Granada, as well as local builders, added other buildings to the Alcazar ensemble, such as the Venedictiones Palace, as well as luxurious courtyards.

The light-coloured architecture with touches of orange forms a breathtaking contrast to the rich greens of the Alcázar's flora.

If you look at the beauty of the sprawling gardens from the balconies, you will certainly notice the uniqueness of the complex, which has absorbed the features of many eras. What was your choice? On the Moorish patio del Crucero (Patio del Crucero) - an old courtyard from the 12th century? Or maybe the modern complexes of the English, the garden of poets or the garden of the Marquis de la Vega Inclan (de la Vega Inclan)?

The spacious gardens of the Seville Alcazar have many small, inconspicuous features: there is a frequent use of old columns, arches, a large number of fountains, ponds. Old trees and palm trees impress with their grandeur, inviting guests into their saving shade.

The overall ensemble of gardens delights. Here, openwork carved arches, cozy balconies, greenery and blueness of the water coexist so harmoniously that such a place can be safely called a paradise! A beautiful gallery runs through the entire complex, where palm trees planted in rows, orange and lemon trees, slender cypresses, alternating with neatly trimmed jasmine bushes and are intricately intertwined. The presence of a large number of citrus trees and ponds here creates a feeling of coolness.

The hedge forms a picturesque labyrinth.

In addition to 170 species of exotic plants that grow on an area of more than 60,000 m2, in the gardens you can see a whole gallery of grottoes, sculptures, canals and ponds, fountains, such as the Neptune Fountain in the Dam Garden.

One of the parts of the garden complex is the magnificent pond of Mercury. It is located just above the garden area, so it seems that the statue of the god Mercury, installed in the center of the pond, is, as it were, watching everything that happens.

In the flower garden there is another picturesque pond, decorated with tiles.

And under the patio del Crucero there are cisterns for collecting rainwater Baños de Doña María de Padilla. They got their name in honor of the beloved Pedro the Cruel, who took baths here.

You can walk endlessly. Closing your eyes for a moment, you can clearly travel back to past centuries and imagine how kings Alphonse X., Pedro I or Charles V walked here, who could tell us their heartbreaking stories. Did you know that the Prince's Garden got its name because Queen Isabella of Castile gave birth to her son Juan (Juan) in a room whose windows overlooked this very garden? And in the garden of Jardín del Cenador there is an arbor in which Charles V liked to spend summer evenings?

Water gardens in Game of Thrones and reality

In Game of Thrones, the luxurious and verdant region of Dorne, both geographically and climatically, is the exact opposite of the harsh and ascetic fortresses of the North, where the story of the series begins. Exhausting heat prevails here, and the landscape bears the imprint of the desert and constant drought. The exception is the water gardens, which are located in the eastern part of the region, in the southeast of the capital Sunspear, on the shores of the Summer Sea. Prince Doran Martell of Dorne lives here, who suffered from gout and lost the ability to walk and therefore moves in a wheelchair.

Doran Martell is the head of House Martell. His people and his own family are rather negative about his excessive calmness. He spends most of his time in the water gardens, watching the frolicking children.

In both the book and the TV series, the water gardens serve as an oasis of calm in the heart of an uninhabitable country, combining Arabic and Moroccan motifs. Here the lords of Dorne rest, their minor children and bastards live, as well as the children of lords and merchants. The pale pink marble palace stands on the seashore. There are many ponds and fountains in it, in which children splash, hiding from the scorching sun in the shade of sprawling palm trees.

One of the fabulous corners of the water gardens. The entrance with columns, overgrown with stormy southern vegetation, is a place where you can be alone with yourself and read an interesting book.

“We were very lucky to find a suitable location to film because the Spanish government has consistently turned down offers to film in the Alcazar in the past,” says Michael Slovis, director of the first two episodes. For the entire film crew - from make-up artists, costume designers to actors - the filming location turned out to be a real find.

Jaime Lannister was accompanied in his ventures by the professional mercenary Bronn (played by Jerome Flynn), whose heart was won by one of the Vipers, Tiena.

Nell Tiger Free, who plays Myrcella Baratheon, spoke about her first impression of the location: “When I first visited the Alcazar, I was blown away by what I saw. The Alcazar of Seville dazzled with its lavish architecture and lush gardens." The colors and ornaments of the palace complex were inspired by the costumes, which absorbed all the originality of Spain in the 14th - 15th centuries. Thus, the Dornish clothing is dominated by yellow and orange shades, combined with a large number of curls and decorative stitching.

Tyene - one of the three "Sand Snakes" - surrounded by the guards of House Martell. Nymeria, Obara and Tiena are the illegitimate daughters of the Dornish prince Oberyn Martell.

Ser Jaime Lannister, played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, also honored the water gardens with his presence. However, his reception was a little rough.

Filming the fifth season at the beautiful Alcazar of Seville, the film crew made a high commitment because this magnificent landscape garden is part of Europe's oldest royal palaces and is still used as a residence by the Spanish royal family when they stay in Seville. In addition, the architecture and gardens of the Alcazar are related to the era of the Moors, and throughout its history, only in the 14th century did its appearance undergo some changes that have survived to this day. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Royal Alcazar of Seville was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.

Doran Martell and Ellaria Sand during a heated conversation. The lush gardens of the Alcazar provide the right fairy tale setting for the film.

Gardens with history

Before entering the gardens, enjoy the architecture of the Alcazar of Seville, an ensemble of royal palaces with a thousand-year history. The modern appearance of the Alcazar began to take shape at the beginning of the 8th century, after the conquest of Seville by the Arabs. In the 11th and 12th centuries, craftsmen from Toledo and Granada, as well as local builders, added other buildings to the Alcazar ensemble, such as the Venedictiones Palace, as well as luxurious courtyards.

The light-coloured architecture with touches of orange forms a breathtaking contrast to the rich greens of the Alcázar's flora.

If you look at the beauty of the sprawling gardens from the balconies, you will certainly notice the uniqueness of the complex, which has absorbed the features of many eras. What was your choice? On the Moorish patio del Crucero (Patio del Crucero) - an old courtyard from the 12th century? Or maybe the modern complexes of the English garden, the garden of poets or the garden of the Marquis de la Vega Inclan (de la Vega Inclan)?

The overall ensemble of gardens delights. Here, openwork carved arches, cozy balconies, greenery and blueness of the water coexist so harmoniously that such a place can be safely called a paradise! A beautiful gallery runs through the entire complex, where palm trees planted in rows, orange and lemon trees, slender cypress trees intertwined intricately, alternating with neatly trimmed jasmine and myrtle bushes. The presence of a large number of citrus trees and ponds here creates a feeling of coolness.

The hedge forms a picturesque labyrinth.

In the flower garden there is another picturesque pond, decorated with tiles.

And under the patio del Crucero there are cisterns for collecting rainwater Baños de Doña María de Padilla. They got their name in honor of the beloved Pedro the Cruel, who took baths here.

You can walk endlessly around the Alcazar of Seville. Closing your eyes for a moment, you can clearly travel back to past centuries and imagine how kings Alphonse X., Pedro I or Charles V walked here, who could tell us their heartbreaking stories. Did you know that the Prince's Garden got its name because Queen Isabella of Castile gave birth to her son Juan (Juan) in a room whose windows overlooked this very garden? And in the garden of Jardín del Cenador there is an arbor in which Charles V liked to spend summer evenings?

Already at first glance, it is clear that the atmosphere prevailing here contributed to the fact that it was easy for the actors to enter the role.

Water gardens in Game of Thrones and reality

One of the fabulous corners of the water gardens. The entrance with columns, overgrown with stormy southern vegetation, is a place where you can be alone with yourself and read an interesting book.

Jaime Lannister was accompanied in his ventures by the professional mercenary Bronn (played by Jerome Flynn), whose heart was won by one of the Serpents, Tiena.

Tyene - one of the three "Sand Snakes" - surrounded by the guards of House Martell. Nymeria, Obara and Tiena are the illegitimate daughters of the Dornish prince Oberyn Martell.

Ser Jaime Lannister, played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, also honored the water gardens with his presence. However, his reception was a little rough.