Filming in Southern Europe

Southern Europe presents a sun-drenched canvas of Mediterranean coastlines, Renaissance cities, and volcanic landscapes, offering productions both visual splendour and cultural depth. Italy provides Roman amphitheatres, Tuscan hillsides, Venetian canals, and the fashion capital of Milan, while Spain stretches from Moorish palaces in Andalusia and flamenco-filled plazas to the desert expanses of Almería and the volcanic Canary Islands. Portugal adds Lisbon’s tiled streets, the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley, and Atlantic cliffs at Cabo da Roca, while Malta doubles seamlessly for both Middle Eastern and historic European locations with its fortified harbours and limestone bastions. San Marino, perched on its Apennine ridge, contributes a rare mountaintop republic backdrop for distinctive aerial and period storytelling. The region, comprising Italy, Spain, Portugal, Malta, and San Marino, benefits from well-established film commissions, robust incentive schemes, and infrastructure tailored to international productions. Together, these territories offer a versatile stage for period dramas, romantic epics, travel documentaries, and contemporary features, blending iconic imagery with layered cultural narratives.

Landscape of rolling green hills and fields with a house surrounded by tall cypress trees, mist, and a colorful sunrise or sunset sky in the background.
The Trevi Fountain, a large Baroque fountain in Rome, Italy, featuring statues and a central figure, with cascading water at the base and a blue sky with some clouds above.
View of gondolas on a canal in Venice with historic buildings in the background during sunset.

Italy offers one of the richest visual palettes in Europe, blending antiquity, Renaissance grandeur, and Mediterranean beauty. Rome anchors productions with the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and baroque piazzas, while Venice’s canals, bridges, and Piazza San Marco provide unparalleled cinematic resonance. Florence contributes the Duomo, Renaissance squares, and galleries steeped in artistic history, while Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia unfolds in rolling vineyards, cypress-lined roads, and rustic villas ideal for romantic or period narratives. Along the Amalfi Coast, pastel-hued villages cling to cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea, creating breathtaking backdrops for dramas or travel features. Italy supports productions with seasoned crews, world-class studios, and one of Europe’s most generous rebate systems, up to 40% on eligible expenditures. BARAMON collaborates with Cinecittà Luce and regional film commissions to secure permits, contracts local line producers to navigate regional logistics, and manages crowd control in heavily touristed zones, ensuring smooth operations across Italy’s iconic sites.

Colorful boats anchored in a clear greenish-blue harbor with a stone shoreline and pastel-colored buildings against a rocky hillside under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Colorful seaside village with wooden houses on a rocky shoreline and clear green waters with small boats
A narrow street in an old European city with stone buildings, potted plants, and a sign that reads 'San Paolo Naufargo Wine & Spirits' under a blue sky with some clouds.

Malta offers an unparalleled blend of fortified heritage, Mediterranean light, and film-ready infrastructure, making it a long-standing favorite for historical and action productions. Valletta’s Baroque bastions, palaces, and Upper Barrakka Gardens overlook the Grand Harbour with grandeur, while the walled “silent city” of Mdina provides narrow medieval alleys ideal for period or fantasy settings. On Gozo, the dramatic cliffs and geological formations of Dwejra expand natural scope, while Fort Ricasoli and Fort St Elmo—frequently used in international blockbusters—supply versatile fortress sets. The fishing village of Marsaxlokk, with its painted boats and nearby St Peter’s Pool, offers vibrant local colour. Malta combines these locations with one of Europe’s most attractive incentive schemes, providing up to 40% rebates, and a government well-known for film-friendly policy. BARAMON collaborates with the Malta Film Commission to secure access to water tanks, backlots, and heritage sites, arranges boat and diving rentals, and hires experienced local armourers and stunt teams to support both large-scale battles and intimate action sequences.

Colorful building with yellow upper walls, decorated with traditional blue and white patterned tiles on the lower walls, black doors and windows, and small balconies with black iron railings.
Coastal scene with boats floating near rocky cliffs and stairs leading down to the water in a cove
Coastal landscape with green cliffs, a small cove, and ocean in the background under a cloudy sky.

Portugal combines maritime heritage, romantic architecture, and Atlantic island landscapes, offering productions both cultural depth and natural spectacle. Lisbon’s Alfama district, with its steep alleys and tiled façades, and Belém’s Manueline monuments provide quintessential cityscapes, while Sintra’s Pena Palace and landscaped gardens add fairy-tale colour to historical or fantasy narratives. The Douro Valley delivers terraced vineyards and river panoramas ideal for gastronomy shows or travelogues, while Madeira enriches productions with Funchal’s harbour views and the UNESCO-listed Laurisilva forest. Further west, São Miguel in the Azores contributes volcanic crater lakes, geothermal hot springs, and Atlantic cliffs, creating dramatic contrasts for adventure or eco-focused features. Portugal is well suited to travel documentaries, culinary programmes, period dramas, and romance, supported by its growing reputation as a film-friendly destination. BARAMON works with the Portugal Film Commission to secure permits and incentives, organises hillside logistics in vineyard terraces, and collaborates with local chefs and Fado musicians to integrate authentic cultural elements into productions.

Sunset over a rugged mountain landscape with an ancient castle on top, surrounded by colorful autumn trees and a stone pathway lined with lampposts.
A winding road through a hilly, rural landscape with scattered houses and trees, captured during daylight.
A historic church with a triangular pediment and tall columns, set against a clear blue sky, with scenic hills in the background.

San Marino, perched on Mount Titano in the Apennines, offers striking medieval panoramas within one of Europe’s smallest republics. Its trio of fortress towers, Guaita, Cesta, and Montale, crown the ridgeline, providing authentic backdrops for historical dramas and fantasy epics, while the Piazza della Libertà and Palazzo Pubblico anchor civic life with Renaissance detail. The Basilica of San Marino adds ecclesiastical gravitas, and the republic’s elevated position affords sweeping views across central Italy. Compact yet visually dramatic, San Marino delivers settings suited to medieval tales, period documentaries, and atmospheric aerial sequences. Productions benefit from the microstate’s accessibility and concentrated heritage. BARAMON negotiates permits with San Marino’s Ministry of Tourism, engages local guides for heritage interpretation, and manages logistics to ensure minimal disruption in this densely visited historic centre, allowing crews to capture the republic’s singular character with efficiency.

The image shows the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., a large white Gothic-style church with a central tower topped by a statue of Jesus Christ, and green hills and trees in the background.
People walking and standing outside the ornate Renaissance-style building with arches and towers in Seville, Spain, under a clear blue sky, with the Spanish flag flying.
View through an ornate arched window in a Middle Eastern style building shows a cityscape with many white buildings, green trees, and cypress trees on a hillside.

Spain offers one of Europe’s most geographically and culturally diverse production landscapes, capable of standing in for multiple continents. The Tabernas Desert in Almería, long associated with Westerns, continues to serve both sci-fi and adventure productions, while Barcelona provides Gaudí’s masterpieces, the Sagrada Família and Park Güell, as instantly recognisable urban icons. In Andalusia, Seville’s Royal Alcázar and Giralda tower blend Moorish and Renaissance splendour, while in the Canary Islands, Tenerife’s Teide National Park delivers volcanic terrain often used for alien worlds or survival narratives. The Basque Coast, stretching around San Sebastián and Zumaia, contributes dramatic cliffs, surf beaches, and a distinct cultural identity. These assets make Spain a natural stage for Westerns, fantasy, period dramas, and contemporary features alike. Supported by strong film commissions, international-standard crews, and rebates of up to 30–40% depending on region, the country is among Europe’s most competitive production hubs. BARAMON works with the Spain Film Commission and regional authorities to secure permits, coordinates logistics across the mainland and islands, and engages cultural performers, from flamenco dancers in Andalusia to Basque rural sports specialists, to add authentic local colour.