With the recent release of the teaser trailer for Season 7 of the HBO series “Game of Thrones,” everyone is aware that winter is coming and war is on the horizon. In that trailer (below) a couple of stunning and iconic locations in Spain are featured, one of which has been seen before in Season 5, along with another stunning spot which is new to Season 7.

Of course, Spain is a popular country for filmmakers. With its many and varied landscapes of stark deserts, looming and craggy mountains, Roman and Moorish architecture and deserted beaches, the country offers something for virtually every movie.

The producers of “Game of Thrones” noticed that fact when they were filming Season 5 and since then Spain has starred in the show several times. In a country that still suffers from high percentages of unemployment, this turned out to be a bonus for many locals who got regular pay for a while as extras in “Game of Thrones.”

Seville and the Royal Palace of Dorne

This wonderful and historic setting in southern Spain featured in Season 5, and anyone who has seen that season should recognize the iconic Real Alcázar Palace. This incredible architecture starred as the Royal Palace of Dorne in that season. The location is set to appear yet again in the upcoming Season 7 of “Game of Thrones” (see if you can spot it in the trailer below), along with the gorgeous Water Gardens on the site.

The show will also reportedly feature the Reales Atarazanas or Royal Dockyards as a shooting location.

Besides the beautiful palace, Seville has even more amazing architecture to view, along with delicious local cuisine, Spanish wines, Flamenco dancers and so much more.

While it is unknown what exactly will happen there in Season 7, filmmakers managed to get permission to film at the Roman ruins of Itálica in Santiponce, a small town outside of Seville, which is expected to be the location of the battle scene in the upcoming season.

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in Bermeo, Galicia

The Local reports that filming started in San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (otherwise known as Castle Rock) last October and we can get a sneak peek of this amazing location in the trailer.

The castle is located on a small island in the Bay of Biscay. The island can be accessed via an ancient stone bridge, which ends with a steep stairway made up of 241 steps all the way to the top (pictured below).

On arrival, visitors will find an ancient hermitage which has been dedicated to the Saint John the Baptist (San Juan himself). An interesting note about the hermitage is the story that should you ring the bell three times, you will be allowed to make a wish. One wish might be to meet some of the stars of the popular “Game of Thrones” in person while climbing those forbidding steps.

Itzurun Beach in Zumaia, Galicia to star in ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 7

Rumors abound that Daenerys and the army of the Unsullied will be making a landing on the Itzurun Beach, also located in Galicia. The beach is surrounded by craggy cliffs and is located on the wild Atlantic Sea, which makes it a perfect and atmospheric spot for “Game of Thrones” Season 7. From a visitors point of view, it must be borne in mind that the Blue Flag designated beach isn’t quite as isolated as it looks, as it does offer a promenade with shops, bars, and restaurants.

Cáceres as King’s Landing in Season 7?

Cáceres is located in Extremadura in central Spain and is a fascinating medieval walled city. The city is a mix of Gothic, Roman and Renaissance architecture, making it the perfect spot for King’s Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. So far there are just rumors going around as to the city’s usage in “Game of Thrones,” but wouldn’t this UNESCO World Heritage Site be just the perfect location?

A battle scene in Los Barruecos Natural Park in Malpartida, Cáceres

Staying in Extremadura, this fascinating natural park, set outside of Malpartida in the Cáceres province, is home to many intriguing rock formations and lakes.

As noted by El Confidencial, the “Game of Thrones” filming crew and actors were there last November. It sounds like there might be an epic battle scene in the making, as local media reportedly called for auditions at the time for muscle-bound locals who have a military background.

Castillo de Almodovar del Rio as Highgarden, the seat of House Tyrell?

Heading back down to Andalusia in the south, the ancient Moorish castle in Almodovar del Rio, Córdoba province is rumored to be the “Game of Thrones” shooting location for Highgarden. While not confirmed, it is the ideal place, looming over the Guadalquivir River with stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

The city of Córdoba itself has appeared before in the HBO show when the Roman bridge in the old town impressively played the part of the Long Bridge of Volantis in Season 5.

Blasting News will keep readers informed as news comes out in the Spanish media of yet more shooting locations used in Season 7. In the meantime, see if you can spot a couple of the locations mentioned above in the trailer for the upcoming season of "Game of Thrones" below. The latest season premieres on HBO on July 16.
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