Cinema Trails Across Europe: Walking to Film & TV Locations

```html

Let's start with Malta to begin this tour of iconic filming locations you can explore on foot.

Malta

Malta has been a popular destination for filming movies and television series thanks to its stunning landscapes, historic architecture, and abundant sunshine.

• Troy (2004): This epic film directed by Wolfgang Petersen and starring Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, and Eric Bana includes scenes shot on the island of Malta, which portrayed the city of Troy.

• Gladiator (2000): The Oscar-winning Best Film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe featured some scenes filmed in Malta, including the Colosseum battle.

• Game of Thrones (2011-2019): The popular HBO series filmed several scenes in Malta during its early seasons, portraying locations such as the free city of Braavos and Daenerys Targaryen's wedding at Vaes Dothrak.

• The Count of Monte Cristo (2002): This adventure film based on Alexandre Dumas's novel included scenes filmed in Malta, portraying the Château d'If and other locations.

• Pirates of the Caribbean 4 (2011): The fourth instalment of the blockbuster Pirates saga included scenes shot on the island of Malta, portraying Saint Martin Island.

• The Passion of the Christ (2004): Directed by Mel Gibson, this dramatic film was shot at various locations, including the island of Malta, which portrayed Jerusalem, but primarily in Matera.

If you're interested in visiting these locations, you can do so by following our walking tour of Malta. A fascinating journey through one of Europe's most incredible islands.

Now making a leap in this tour of film locations you can visit on foot, we're heading to Ireland, another island that cinema has exploited on many occasions.

Ireland

Among the most famous films shot in Ireland we find Braveheart, Excalibur, King Arthur, and The Island of Doctor Moreau. Regarding television series, Ireland has been the setting for Vikings, Game of Thrones, The Tudors, and Normal People.

But we'll focus on those film locations you can visit on foot and are found near the Wicklow Way, one of our walking routes in Ireland and also one of the most captivating.

• Braveheart (1995): Although much of the film was shot in Scotland, some key scenes were filmed in the Wicklow Mountains National Park, including the Battle of Stirling.

• P.S. I Love You (2007): This romantic film starring Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler included various scenes filmed in County Wicklow, near the Wicklow Way.

• Vikings (2013-2020): The popular TV series about Viking warriors filmed some scenes in County Wicklow, using the mountainous landscapes and vast forests for its battle sequences.

• Excalibur (1981): This epic film based on the legend of King Arthur was shot at various locations throughout Ireland, including the Wicklow Mountains National Park.

Portugal

Making another small but significant leap, we're heading from Ireland to Portugal, which with its impressive natural beauty and diverse landscapes has served as a location for films and series, including Money Heist, Versailles, and The Witcher.

• 007: On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969): This James Bond film, starring George Lazenby, features scenes shot along Portugal's coastline, specifically in the Algarve region.

• The Tourist (2010): This action and thriller film, starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp, includes scenes filmed in the picturesque coastal city of Porto, as well as other locations along the Portuguese coast.

• Lisbon Story (1994): Directed by Wim Wenders, this film features spectacular views of Lisbon and its coastline, capturing the unique beauty of the city and its surroundings.

• A Good Year (2006): This film starring Russell Crowe and directed by Ridley Scott includes scenes filmed in the Algarve region, highlighting the stunning cliffs and beaches of the Portuguese coast.

• Knight and Day (2010): This action comedy starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz includes scenes filmed in the coastal town of Cascais, near Lisbon, as well as other locations along the Portuguese coast.

We remind you that with A Piedi per il Mondo you can take various fascinating routes along Portugal's coastline and discover the stunning landscapes you can see in these and other films.

France

Ah, la belle France.

We're all aware of the importance of Paris in the world of cinema, but France has so much more than the Eiffel Tower. 

Many TV series have been filmed in this wonderful country, such as Emily in Paris (one of the most popular series at the moment) or Lupin. As for films, we have Moulin Rouge (set in the Montmartre district of Paris) or the celebrated Amélie.

However, taking advantage of our walking tours in France, if you want to see on screen the impressive French coastlines and the Mont Saint Michel, we suggest two titles set near the GR34 trail, included in this list of film locations you can visit on foot.

• Beyond the Garden (1995) – This French film, directed by Pedro Tovar, features beautiful images of Mont Saint-Michel and its surroundings.

• Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) – While not all of the film was shot near Mont Saint-Michel, some key scenes were filmed in the area, using the iconic location as a backdrop for the action.

Italy

Italy is another undeniably cinematic location. We won't discuss Gladiator, Roman Holiday, or La Dolce Vita here, but we'll give you a couple of titles to add to this list of film locations you can visit on foot and that pass near the Via Francigena and the Via di Francesco.

• The Way (2010) – This film, directed by Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen, follows a man travelling along the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage route that intersects with the Via Francigena in Italy.

• Francisco: The Pope John Paul II Story (2015) – This Argentinian biographical film about Pope Francis includes scenes filmed in Assisi, a town along the Via di Francesco, which is an important pilgrimage destination.

• Life Is Beautiful (1997) – Although most of the film takes place in a concentration camp, some scenes were filmed in the Umbria region, near the Via di Francesco.

Japan

The possibilities are endless for films and series that have featured Japan as their backdrop. The Nakahechi route and the Kumano Kodo in general (one of our favourite destinations) is a sacred pilgrimage trail in Japan, so it's very unlikely that a film crew could access it for shooting.

However, to capture the essence of Japan from a Western perspective and inspire you to visit its majestic walking trail, we recommend Lost in Translation with Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson and Memoirs of a Geisha to connect with more traditional Japan.

On our website you'll find numerous routes and destinations to explore on foot, and the best part is that we can take care of everything for you!

 From flights to the finest hotels, so you can enjoy the unique experience of our routes.

And if you have any questions, you can always contact our team of experts to help with any doubts 😉 We'd be delighted to assist you!

```