July 13, 2025, 6:03 am | Read time: 4 minutes
During the peak of the so-called Spaghetti Western era, the Tabernas Desert in Spain’s Almería province transformed into a massive film set. With filming being affordable and conditions ideal, several towns were authentically recreated in the style of the Wild West. These towns have been preserved to this day and have become one of the largest tourist attractions in Andalusia.
If you visit the province of Almería and the town of Tabernas during a trip to Andalusia, you might feel like you’re in a movie. Especially for older travelers, the dry, barren landscape shaped by the Tabernas Desert may evoke images of taciturn heroes and villains with smoking guns, wild shootouts, and epic tales of love and revenge. Indeed, for a time, this was the European epicenter of the so-called Spaghetti Western industry, located in Europe’s only desert. The sets, faithfully reconstructed villages reminiscent of the Wild West, can still be found today. They have since become a popular tourist attraction.
According to the local tourism board, the Tabernas Desert was discovered as a filming location starting in the 1950s. Spaghetti Westerns refer to films of this genre primarily produced in Spain or Italy, with costs significantly lower than Hollywood productions. “The landscape is very similar to the ‘real’ American West,” a spokesperson told TRAVELBOOK. “Therefore, it was ideally suited for shooting Westerns without having to travel to the United States.” The first film crews used temporary sets, but the production of films increased rapidly, especially in the 1960s and ’70s.
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“That’s when they began to build permanent film sets in the Tabernas Desert, real Western villages. These were constructed with the intention of being used repeatedly for the production of many films. The construction of these villages played a key role in transforming Tabernas into a European Hollywood for Western films.” Among them are many productions that significantly shaped the genre, such as the “Dollars Trilogy” by iconic director Sergio Leone. “Once Upon a Time in the West,” perhaps the most epic Western of all time, was also filmed in Almería. In total, more than 300 films have been produced here to date.
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Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Claudia Cardinale, Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson—all the big Western stars once filmed in the Tabernas Desert. But other types of films were also made here. For example, the 1962 historical film “Lawrence of Arabia,” which won seven Oscars. More recent productions include the finale of the original “Indiana Jones” series, the 1989 “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” starring superstar Harrison Ford. Even today, films or series are occasionally produced in the three remaining Western villages. However, they primarily serve as unusual amusement parks, aiming to bring visitors closer to the supposed life in the Wild West.
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“After the Spaghetti Western hype died down, the operators of the film villages had to look for new ways to maintain them. So they were transformed into tourist theme parks.” Spectacular, authentic settings were complemented by live shows, such as duels or dances. Visitors can also ride horses or take carriage rides in the parks today. “In this way, these places were transformed from film sets into leisure destinations. Here, guests can enjoy the atmosphere of the Wild West and relive scenes from their favorite films.” The main sources of income for the destination are no longer film shoots but tourism.
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And this seems to be booming. Several hundred thousand people visit the Tabernas Desert each year. The old Western villages have thus become one of the most important attractions in the province of Almería, if not all of Andalusia. Visitors can choose from three parks: Oasys Mini Hollywood, Fort Bravo, and Western Leone. Since entrance fees, opening hours, and on-site offerings vary, it’s best to check in advance which one is most interesting for you. Almería also hosts an annual Western Film Festival. This event honors the unique genre and its influence on the region as a popular filming location.