Season 6 Locations and Settings ***SPOILERS***

SEASON 6 SPOILERS AHEAD. It has just been revealed that Girona, in Catalonia, Spain, is to be one of the locations for Season 6. Being archaeologists we often travel to historic towns and our knowledge of old and out-of-the-way places is very useful when helping production companies find authentic locations. Here are some photographs from the last time we were in Girona and some thoughts on which locations from Season 6 they might be representing.

The distinctive architecture of Girona lends it itself easily to doubling for Dorne, the Moorish influence is strong as the town was part of Islamic Spain for a large part of the early and later medieval periods.

The Passeig Arqueològic is a walkway around the route of the ancient town walls, some of which have been specially reconstructed. Girona has been besieged about twenty-five times but has only been taken seven times. The walls were originally built by the Romans in the first century BC and were later rebuilt by Peter III the Ceremonious.

The narrow medieval alleys from the Islamic period and the Jewish quarter, known as El Call, evoke the cities around Slaver’s Bay. Muslims of the Ummayyad Caliphate had conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century. As the caliphate recognised Jews and Christians as People of the Book they were protected under Islamic law and allowed religious freedom by payment of a tax called jizya. The Christian kings gradually won back Spain during a 780 year Reconquista (Reconquest). The Jews were forced out of Spain in 1492, while Muslims were allowed to continue practicing their religion, forced conversions began shortly after, George R.R. Martin has admitted that the Faith were inspired by the Catholic Church, part of which were the Spanish Inquisition.

The wider streets of the old town would make good Oldtown and Dornish streets, which are on a similar latitude and would have similar light conditions. Could this be the background for Jaqen H’ghar’s next face change?

The Seven? Could this be the Sept of another major city such as Oldtown or Sunspear? Perhaps even the Citadel? We know that Sam is on his way there and will soon meet Marwyn the Mage and encounter the conspiracy of the Maesters. The Cathedral was once used as a mosque and has the widest nave in Christendom, 22m.

This is the desiccator crypt in the former Capuchin monastery. 18 niches, each with a perforated seat and a drains fed by a sloping floor. These were used to dry the bodies of deceased Capuchin friars, which sat in a niche for two years drying out and draining of bodily fluids and decomposition products until they were completely dehydrated and mummified. They were then dressed and moved to the main crypt. The desiccator crypt probably won’t feature, but it is very similar to the House of Black and White.

The Lannister Lion? Could there be some scenes in Lannisport or at Casterly Rock? This is the Girona Lioness in Plaça de Sant Feliu, it is good luck to climb up the pillar and kiss her ass. The original statue is medieval and stood outside the Hostel de la Lleona on Carrer Calderers, it may have given the hotel its name.

Few things are more awe-inspiring than walking around the remains of a castle that has been smashed by a colossal explosion, which I have had the pleasure of doing on a handful of occasions. It is hard to imagine the force that could tear something this size apart and leave the pieces lying at random angles like slabs of built Lego®. These walls were blasted by Napoleon’s forces during the Peninsular War in one of the three sieges of Gerona between 1808 and 1809. The Third Siege of Gerona (1809) lasted for seven months and ended with General Alvarez’s forces fighting in the city’s barricaded and entrenched streets until December, after the castle, the main defensive position, fell in August. Perhaps there will be some scenes in the ruins of a once-great civilization such as the Freehold of Valyria or the Ghiscari Empire? Or even a scene at the ruins of the Tower of Joy?

This dried up riverbed of the Riu Galligants is not far from the town centre passing through the medieval villages of Sant Feliu and Sant Pere de Galligants. With a location like this you could imagine it to be anywhere in Westeros or Essos. More speculation of Season 6 here.