Almeria: Visit Desert Film Studios

Explore How Texas-Hollywood Films Are Filmed in a Spanish Desert

Feb 22, 2008 Rachel L. Webb

Having seen many of the great actors of the Spaghetti Westerns it may come as a surprise to find that a lot of the old favourite 1960s films were shot in Almeria, Spain.

In, Almeria, the most arid part of Spain, huddled in the south-east corner are two theme parks with a difference, one is Fort Bravo – Texas-Hollywood and the other Oasys-Mini Hollywood, these are the two most important cinema studios and mock western towns in the whole of Europe.

This arid landscape wooed the directors of the spaghetti westerns in the 1960s and since then this area in Tabernas, Almeria has seen films and commercials made here ever since. One of the most recent pieces of filming to take place was David Beckham shooting the Pepsi commercial.

Discovered by Italian film director Sergio Leone, this Texas type landscape has been the backdrop for films such as The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Apache Kid, The Magnificent Seven and Lawrence of Arabia.

The Taberna Desert is the only surviving desert area in Europe and is home to the original three Western towns that Leone’s production crew built in the 1960s. There is an America Village, which is a mock-up of a typical Wild West town complete with saloon, jail, shops, a bank and stables. There is a traditional Mexican Village area and an Indian village complete with their unique teepees.

It is in these incredible backgrounds that the fun and action before the camera takes place. Here you can stroll down the dusty main street and order your quiet drink in the saloon. Get your timing right and you’ll be able to take your seat before a real live action scene starts with shoot-outs, or walk down the main drag and see the horseback acrobatics and gun fights.

If horses are more your style then take a stagecoach ride through a "typical" western town, or hire a horse for you own outback trek that are available for hire with or without guides.

These parks are a unique thrill for all the family, horses and gun-fights, damsels and jails and plenty of good ol’ desert dust.

The two theme parks are closely linked and are located about 25km north of the provincial capital Almeria on the N-340.

Open in the high season between 10am and 10pm, and during the low season between 10am and 7pm. Texas Hollywood is closed on Mondays between November 1st and December 14th.

Fort Bravo-Texas Hollywood 0034 950 066014

Oasys -Mini Hollywood 0034 950 36 52 36

Accommodation is available in log cabins on- site or off-site there is a wealth of hotels and apartments 30km away on the coast.

See here for more on attractions and fiestas in Andalucia.

The copyright of the article Almeria: Visit Desert Film Studios in S Europe Travel is owned by Rachel L. Webb. Permission to republish Almeria: Visit Desert Film Studios in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Fort Bravo

Skyline Fort Bravo