For Cinephiles: Barcelona in Three Films
Get introduced to three movies, including Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona, that took full advantage of Barcelona as a setting. We map out where to see the sites that appear in the different movies.
By Fabiola Chirinos
10/17/2016
This former home of counts, like all great cities of the world, has also served as a muse from time to time. It can inspire both those who are seeing it for the first time and those who have visited it so many times that they’ve lost count. Its architecture, its unique landscapes and its distinct traditions make it a perfect place for anyone wishing to discover the culture that abounds in its streets. A visit to Barcelona is even better for lovers of the seventh art. They can discover all the wonders of the city following in the footsteps of their favourite characters out of a Woody Allen love story, a crime thriller and more. The choice is theirs.
There are specialized tours in the city that will take you through the film locations while the guide reveals the most interesting facts, but if you prefer to go at your own pace, here you’ll find the most famous films that were shot in the Catalonian capital. There’s nothing like an evening of cinema before your trip to help you finish planning your activities.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (directed by Woody Allen) The film follows two young American women who decide to take a trip to Spain. One of them is finishing her master’s degree in Catalan Identity, exploring the work of Gaudí, while the other is running away from yet another relationship.
From the very beginning, the film shows the city’s most important sites: Passeig de Grácia, La Pedrera, Las Ramblas and La Sagrada Familia. Güell Park is another of the must-see places presented in the film. And while you’re at it, why not spend an afternoon in Tibidabo, which offers the perfect backdrop to a conversation between Vicky and Juan Antonio. The view is even more incredible in person, than seen from the couch.
When it comes to museums, all of those shown in the film are well worth visiting again and again. You can start with the National Museum of Catalonia and continue on to the Miró Foundation and the Tapias Foundation, rounding out your tour with the Catalonian Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA).
Todo Sobre Mi Madre (All About My Mother, directed by Pedro Almodóvar) Fans of Pedro Almodóvar can get to know the city through one of his films, which narrates the story of a woman who travels to Barcelona to tell her son’s father—now a transvestite—of the seventeen year old boy’s death. It’s considered to be one of the director’s best films and, without a doubt, one that offers the best locations in the Catalonian capital.
Among the most important sites shown in the film are La Sagrada Familia and the Palace of Catalan Music, an auditorium filled with history that will enthral lovers of music, architecture and culture, alike. You can also visit the Montjuïc Cemetery, which appears in the film and boasts some astounding headstones and mausoleums being the burial site of a number of important artists who left their mark on Barcelona, including Joan Miró.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (directed by Tom Tykwer) The film sought to recreate eighteenth-century Paris. Director Tom Tykwer decided to shoot it in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, whose squares and natural spaces made it a perfect choice. The film tells the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, whose quest for the perfect perfume unleashes a series of tragic occurrences.
Among the most compelling settings is the Poble Espanyol architectural museum, where one of the film’s most important and memorable scenes was shot. You can then walk through the Plaça Sant Felip Neri, the Parc del Laberint d’Horta and the Basilica of Saints Justus and Pastor. While they may not be the most famous of the city’s attractions, they are all places of undeniable beauty that offer visitors a distinctive view and provide the film with an enviable aesthetic.