After weeks of rumors, it has been officially confirmed that the Game of Thrones production team will be filming scenes in the southeastern Spanish city of Almería for Season 6.
According to La Voz de Almería, the production is taking a particular interest in the Alcazaba de Almería, a defensive complex located in the upper section of the city. The Alcazaba has a history for hosting film productions: it was used in movies like Conan the Barbarian, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Never Say Never Again, not a bad little collection. As you can see, the place certainly looks like it would slide right into the world of Game of Thrones, although there currently aren’t any details on exactly what location it will stand in for.
Obtained via wikipedia. Uploaded 21 January 2010 by ANE. Fotografía de la Alcazaba de Almería, Andalucía, España, tomada desde el este, con vista al primer recinto.
The mountains in the background and the rustic nature of the structure suggest somewhere in Essos. Also, while the translation of the article in La Voz isn’t perfect, it does say that “all indications are that Daenerys Targaryen, the Khaleesi (Emily Clarke) and Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage)” will be present, and that the scenes shot in the area “will require the presence of a large number of horses.” Sounds like Essos to me.
In addition to the Alcazaba de Almería, the production is also purportedly interested in the Faro de Mesa Roldán, a lighthouse in the municipality of Carboneras; the Tabernas desert region; the hamlet of El Chorrillo Sierra Alhamilla in Pechina; and some beaches at the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata-Nijar.
In short, everything is coming up Game of Thrones where Spain is concerned lately. In Season 5, the production filmed in two areas: the cities of Osuna and Seville. For Season 6, it’ll be filming in Navarre, Girona, Peñíscola, and now Almería. It would seem that the show has taken a liking to the region, and the “fifteen percent” tax incentives mentioned by the Voz article can’t hurt, either.