Lights, Camera, Action! 9 Of Malta’s Top Filming Locations
Pleasant weather, sun, beaches and a rich collection of heritage make Malta a hot favourite in the global movie industry. From Hollywood to Bollywood, everyone is going crazy for the Maltese archipelago when it comes to finding exquisite location.
Here are some of the most camera-friendly locations in Malta.
1. Mdina Gate
The 12th century fortified hilltop known as The Silent City has been the top favourite with moviemakers for decades, and the preserved ancient walls will take you back to the old times as you pass through the commanding gate.
As you may recall, Game of Thrones’ epic first season sequence outside King Landing featured the Mdina gate, but more recently, the entrance to our Silent City also featured in the Bollywood big budget movie ‘Bharat’.
2. Valletta
Valletta is no stranger when it comes to shooting exotic locations for the big box office movies.
From Brad Pitt starring in World War Z to Munich and Midnight Express, Valletta has always featured in a couple of blockbusters.
And who can forget that epic poster of 20th Century Fox’s production Assassin’s Creed where the capital was used to double as 15th century Spain?
3. Cittadella, Gozo
The old fortified citadel on the sister island with many medieval structures is a hot favourite for many tourists and filmmakers.
Offering a panoramic view of Gozo, Cittadella has been used widely by directors, with the most recent addition being the BBC’s production Byron where Cittadella doubled as Greece.
4. Popeye Village
Our very own purposely built Popeye Village is a legacy left behind by one of the biggest flops delivered by Robin Williams.
Though perfect for family entertainment and photography buffs, this movie set is one of the top locations in any tourist’s must-visit list on the island.
5. Gozo
Before succumbing to heavy storms and leaving everyone absolutely devastated, the Azure Window was featured in some of big budget movies like Clash of the Titans, The Count of Monte Cristo and how can forget the Dothraki wedding of Game of Thrones.
Most recently, Gozo was used By The Sea starring Brad Pitt and Angeline Jolie, who fell in love with the tiny picturesque beach of Mġarr ix-Xini.
6. Vittoriosa
This Medieval city overlooking the Grand Harbour has served as a location for cult movies ever like The Da Vinci Code and The Count of Monte Cristo.
An ideal location for a period movie, the Vittoriosa waterfront unfortunately also featured in the Madonna flop Swept Away.
7. Fort Ricasoli
This 16th century marvel was at the epicentre of some of the most talked-about award-winning films like Troy and Gladiator… and Game of Thrones, of course!
The fort’s history and view of Grand Harbour is a magnet for movie makers.
8. Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar
One of the recent additions to the list is the super fancy 19th-century establishment, making it to the big screen as double for French chateaux in The Count of Monte Cristo, the Genoa Hotel in Daniel Deronda and an Italian villa in Byron.
9. Mediterranean Film Studios
Ah, the motherlode.
After its inception in 1963, the MFS has been featured in plenty of movies and TV mini-series.
Famous for its water illusion, Hollywood movies like Cutthroat Island, Pinocchio, Swept Away 7 & U-571 chose MFS as their ideal spot. The latest addition is the Bollywood big budget movie Thugs of Hindostan.
With easy access to the sea and *ahem* an incentive of a tax break, Malta’s film-set potential has been witnessed globally and we hope to see more filmmakers to grace our shores.