Location 01Sad Hill Cemetery (Mirandilla Valley)
Burgos, Castilla y León, near Santo Domingo de Silos, Spain Free to see
Filmed here: Final triello standoff and cemetery scenes
The circular cemetery built for the film's climactic triello standoff sits in the Mirandilla Valley near Santo Domingo de Silos. Constructed as a purpose-built set, it fell into disrepair before being restored for tourism. Today it is a public site reached via hiking trails near Contreras and Santo Domingo de Silos, and it has become one of Spain's most popular film tourism destinations. Expect a walk to reach the circle itself.
Location 02Mini Hollywood (Oasys)
Almería, Andalucía, Tabernas, Spain Ticketed
Filmed here: Town streets and night scenes in Santa Ana / Santa Fé
This western theme park in Tabernas occupies the sets used for the town streets and night scenes of Santa Ana and Santa Fé. Access is by ticket, and visitors get live shows and tours alongside the preserved film sets. It is the easiest way to stand inside a Leone western town without arranging transport into open desert, and it pairs naturally with a drive along the nearby N-340a.
Location 03Tabernas Desert
Almería, Andalucía, Tabernas, Spain Free to see
Filmed here: Desert marches and various exterior scenes
Europe's most famous desert landscape served as the backdrop for the desert marches and numerous exterior scenes. It is now a natural park area with hiking routes and drives along the N-340a road. The terrain is raw and exposed, so water, sun protection and sensible timing matter. Many visitors combine it with the Mini Hollywood park just outside Tabernas village.
Location 04Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park
Almería, Andalucía, Níjar, Spain Free to see
Filmed here: Monastery and long desert walk scenes; bridge explosion
This protected coastal park near Níjar hosted the monastery and long desert walk sequences, along with the famous bridge explosion. Spanish Army soldiers appeared as extras in the Civil War battle scenes. The park offers coastal and desert trails, and its wild beaches and volcanic scenery make it a destination in its own right, film connection aside.
Location 05Cortijo del Fraile
Almería, Andalucía, Los Albaricoques, Níjar, Spain Outside only
Filmed here: Monastery mission scenes
A private farmhouse near Los Albaricoques used for the monastery mission scenes. Because it remains private property, viewing is exterior only, from the road. The building's isolated setting against arid hills gives a clear sense of why the production chose it. Combine it with a wander through nearby Los Albaricoques, which has its own film connections.
Location 06Carazo (Betterville camp site)
Burgos, Castilla y León, Carazo, Spain Free to see
Filmed here: Betterville concentration camp scenes
The rural area around Carazo stood in for the Betterville concentration camp scenes. It sits on the Burgos film route, which links several of the production's northern Spanish locations. Access is public, though facilities are minimal and signage is the main marker of what happened here. It works best as part of a wider loop through the Arlanza Valley.
Location 07Arlanza River near Covarrubias
Burgos, Castilla y León, Covarrubias, Spain Free to see
Filmed here: Langstone Bridge battle and explosion
The Langstone Bridge battle and explosion were filmed on this stretch of the Arlanza River near Covarrubias. In a well known production mishap, the bridge explosion was filmed twice after the first take destroyed all three cameras. The river valley is accessible along roads near Covarrubias, a handsome historic village that makes a pleasant base for exploring the Burgos locations.
Location 08Monasterio de San Pedro de Arlanza
Burgos, Castilla y León, Hortigüela, Spain Free to see
Filmed here: Military hospital and monastery scenes
These historic ruins near Hortigüela doubled as the military hospital and monastery, sharing monastery duties with locations in Almería. The site is open to the public and sits in the green Arlanza Valley, a striking contrast to the desert south. Its romantic ruined arches are a draw for photographers even without the Leone connection.
Location 09Cinecittà Studios
Lazio, Rome, Italy Ticketed
Filmed here: Opening scene and Western town sets (hanging sequence)
Rome's great studio complex hosted the opening scene and the western town sets used for the hanging sequence. Cinecittà remains an active studio and offers public tours, making it the one location outside Spain. Film fans visiting Rome can see working soundstages and exhibitions, and the tour provides context on the Italian production boom behind the spaghetti western era.
Location 10La Calahorra Station
Granada, Andalucía, La Calahorra, Guadix, Spain Outside only
Filmed here: Train escape and railroad station scenes
This historic station near Guadix in Granada province appears in the train escape and railroad scenes. It is exterior only, visible from public areas, and there is little formal visitor infrastructure. Guadix itself is known for cave dwellings and desert badlands, so the detour suits travellers already crossing Andalucía between Almería and Granada.
Location 11Los Albaricoques / Cortijada del Higo Seco
Almería, Andalucía, Níjar area, Spain Outside only
Filmed here: Hanging scene and town exteriors
This rural hamlet in the Níjar area hosted the hanging scene and various town exteriors. Some of its streets are named after cast members, a mark of local pride in the production. Access is exterior only, and the hamlet is small enough to explore on foot in under an hour. It sits within Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, close to Cortijo del Fraile.
