Touring the Tabernas Desert or the Spanish Far West

The Tabernas Desert in Almería is one of those rarities of nature that amaze the traveler visiting Spain. Especially when it is the only desert area on the European continent. It is located between the Sierras de los Filabres and Alhamilla and acquired world fame when in the middle of the XNUMXth century it became an immense film set for national and international productions.

The sun, high temperatures and low rainfall have created a steppe landscape with very harsh living conditions where only a small but valuable population of fauna and flora inhabit. Dotted with streams and dry boulevards, it is at dusk when you can contemplate its unique beauty by reflecting the reddish light of the sun on its lunar landscape.

Hollywood immortalized its haunting and arid landscape in mythical Wild West films such as 'The Good, the Ugly and the Bad' but also in more modern films such as 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'. Therefore, it is worth wondering, what is it about the Tabernas Desert that attracts the attention of the world of cinema so powerfully?

A magnet for ecotourists

When the visitor arrives at the Tabernas Desert, they will perceive almost immediately that they are in a land of contrasts. The warm Mediterranean merges in Cabo de Gata with the barren land, giving rise to one of the most beautiful landscapes on the Andalusian coast. In addition, its landscape interest is compounded by its high environmental value because there are different species of plants and animals unique in Europe and even in the world due to its rarity. Precisely because of the richness of its birds, this place was declared a Special Protection Area for Birds.

At present it is possible to do routes in 4 × 4 or on foot to know the Tabernas Desert in detail. A unique experience that the visitor will not forget.

A paradise for filmmakers

One of its most exploited economic resources in the Tabernas Desert is having served as the setting for the filming of various films. In fact, the Tabernas Desert was Hollywood's film paradise during the 60s and 70s of the XNUMXth century. Here the sets were erected to recreate the American Far West and stars such as Clint Eastwood, Brigitte Bardot, Anthony Quinn, Claudia Cardinale, Alain Delon, Sean Connery, Raquel Welch and Orson Welles walked through them, among many others. His landscapes served as the setting for scenes from great films such as: "Lawrence of Arabia", "Cleopatra", "The good, the ugly and the bad", "Death had a price" or "Indiana Jones and the last crusade".

Cowboy Cinema Theme Park

When the Western movie fever came to an end, The sets were used to make a theme park called Parque Oasis Poblado del Oeste where a small town from the Wild West and some of the mythical scenes of the western genre are recreated. Thus you can attend shows such as duels between gunmen, the bank robbery, the can-can dance in the saloon, etc. You can also visit three interesting museums such as:

• Cinema Museum: It has a collection of projectors, posters (movie billboard poster of the westerns filmed in Almería) and different accessories that will make you enjoy a walk through the history of the seventh art, ending the visit in an old projection room in use.
• Car Museum: The most emblematic cars and stagecoaches preserved in perfect condition since their use in large film productions, which made Gary Cooper or Clint Easwood, among others, a legend.
• Cactus Garden: This garden is home to more than 250 species of cacti from different corners of the planet. The ticket price is 22,5 euros for adults and 12,5 for children.

The Parque Oasis Poblado del Oeste is open on weekends and long weekends. From Easter it is open every day but for more information it is advisable to call 902-533-532.

The Dollar Trilogy Route

Last year the Junta de Andalucía presented a route called The Dollar Trilogy to honor the past of the Tabernas Desert as a film set. This route leads us to the enclaves where the Dollar Trilogy by director Sergio Leone, a reference in the western genre composed of the tapes 'For a handful of dollars' (1964), 'Death had a price' (1965) and 'The good, the ugly and the bad' (1966).

This initiative is part of the Gran Ruta del Cine por Andalucía project, which aims to offer the traveler a virtual tour of this Spanish community whose landmarks coincide with the location of the filming of films that are part of the main film productions filmed in the region.

The route of the Trilogy of the Dollar also has a symbolic purpose because it is the first cinema route through the province of Almería, for its emblematic value and for the prominence it had in the 60s in international cinema in general and in the western genre in particular.

Almería Cinema House

In the city of Almería, calle Camino Romero, 1 - Villa Blanca, there is the so-called Casa del Cine de Almería that reviews the province's cinematographic past in order to preserve the historical memory. This space, in addition, was in the past an accommodation for the interpreters during the filming of the films, including Clint Eastwood and Brigitte Bardot. However, the one who gave more fame to the house was John Lennon who in 1966 participated in the filming of the movie How I Won the War and during his stay he composed the song Strawberry Fields Forever.

The entrance to the Almería Film House costs 3 euros for general and 2 euros for reduced. It can be visited every day of the week but you have to check the opening hours.

Almería International Film Festival

In November 2016, the Almería International Film Festival reached its fifteenth edition with the aim of establishing itself as one of the main references of the genre worldwide. With this festival, the traditional link between Almería and cinema is maintained and spaces for meeting and reflection are established for professionals, historians and film critics., favoring the relationship with other national and international film festivals.

As in previous editions, last year the organization of the festival once again had the collaboration of the Almeria society.