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Star Wars: Top 10 places to make Earth a galaxy
Star Wars, the planet Earth is a distant galaxy
Star Wars takes us on a journey to the far reaches of its galaxy, breathtaking landscapes that are all on Earth.
1. Queen Amidala’s Royal Palace
Caserta in Italy is home to one of the residences of the royal Bourbon family of Naples, but for Star Wars fans it is Queen Amidala’s palace (episode I- The Phantom Menace)! It is in this magnificent 47,000 m2 building that George Lucas chose to install his cameras. Rather than recreate this set digitally, he chose to actually shoot in this place which is, according to him, “an incredible piece of architecture” and which would represent a titanic work to try to restore its beauty digitally. This magnificent palace can now be visited for around 15€ to walk in the footsteps of the Queen of Naboo!
Address: Piazza Carlo di Borbone, Caserta, Italy
2. Amidala’s resting place – a little piece of heaven in the galaxy
Young Skywalker accompanies Queen Amidala to her resting place to protect her. This is also where they kiss for the first time! Located in Italy on the shores of Lake Como, this villa was built in 1787 on the ruins of a Franciscan convent and offers a panoramic view of the Alps and the lake that will delight fans of Star Wars. It was also used for the shooting of many films and it is possible to visit it!
Address: Lake Como, Italy
3. Place in front of the palace of Naboo
Spain and especially Seville and its famous Spanish Steps also have their place in the saga. Built for the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929, this huge square was built by 1000 men and its works were the most expensive of the event. It is on this square that Anakin and Amidala walk in Episode II, as they are just coming out of the palace (when you know that this one is in Italy, it’s quite a leap!).
Address: Plaza de España, Seville, Spain
4. Site of the battle of Kashyyyk
You will certainly recognize this bay from many movies. Phang Nga Bay in Thailand near Phuket was even declared a national park in 1981. Rock sites, unusual shapes, and breathtaking landscapes are the backdrop for the famous Kashyyyk air battle in Episode III! The on-site shooting was done with a small crew, while the majority of the scenes in this component were shot in studios in Sydney.
Address: Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
5. Luke Skywalker’s house – a refuge in the galaxy
This fanspot consists of two distinct sites in Tunisia: the outside is about 10km west of Nefta near the P3 road. A real tourist attraction, inside you won’t find the Skywalker farm’s decorations!
This one is located in Matmata, in a hotel called Sidi Driss. It is indeed in this hotel that were shot the plans of the troglodyte farm of the Lars, home of Luke Skywalker in episode IV (also seen in episode II).
House of Luke Skywalker
In addition to the desert, the cameras were able to capture some very real places. This is the case of the Lars’ farm, where young Luke Skywalker lives at the beginning of the film. A troglodytic residence built by Berbers centuries ago, the hotel has now become a flagship tourist attraction, known as the Star Wars Hotel. The first episode of one of the most lucrative sagas in the world, Star Wars: A New Hope is one of the highest grossing feature films of all time.
Read more6. Former rebel base
The ancient Mayan city of Tikal in Guatemala served as the location for the Rebel base at Yavin 4 in Episode IV, also appearing in Rogue One! It’s this location that Princess Leia Organa is keeping secret. The Empire succeeds in discovering it and all the pilots, including young Luke, must destroy the terrible Death Star. Once this victory is achieved, the rebels decide to change their base.
Address: Tikal Guatemala
7. Planet Hoth – the glacier of the galaxy
Star Wars Episode V begins with blood-curdling scenes: the terrible glacier planet Hoth! It is Norway, and more precisely the glacier with the sweet name of Hardangerjøkulen, near Finse, that the team chose to shoot the scenes. You might as well say that you’ll have to be well equipped to get there, and not rely on a friend to get you into the belly of a Tauntaun to keep you warm!
Address: Hardangerjøkulen, Norway
8. Desert of Jabba the Hutt
Everyone remembers the two poor droids on a mission to reach Jabba the Hutt’s hideout. They have to cross dry, wild terrain to help Luke rescue Han Solo. These scenes were shot in Death Valley, more precisely at Twenty Mule Team Canyon. A little anecdote: the two actors playing c3po and R2D2 didn’t like each other at all, and these scenes where they are only two and have to stick together must have been particularly painful for them, considering their resentment.
Address: Twenty Mule Team Canyon, USA
9. New rebel base
The rebel base for Episode VII is in England. This is the Greenham Common Cold War Airbase Control Tower. Opened in 1942 and an essential element during World War II and the Cold War for the Royal Air Force, it has been closed since 1997. It has also since been used as a filming location for the famous Top Gear show or for a Beyoncé video clip!
Address: Greenham Common Cold War Airbase Control Tower, Thatcham, UK
10. Luke Skywalker Island
We end up in the top 10 on a new sublime landscape, and especially at the end of episode VII: the famous scene where Rey meets Luke Skywalker, who has been missing for many years. This scene was shot in Ireland, near the island of Skellig Michael. Today the island has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, and its lighthouse has been in operation since 1800.
Address: Skellig Michael Island, Ireland, United Kingdom
Friends globetrotters, travel the world to the rhythm of the imperial march, and reveal the strength that is within you!
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By Damien Duarte
Passionné par la culture pop depuis son enfance, ses références vont de Donald Duck à Batman en passant par Marty McFly. Fantripper dans l'âme, voyager sur les traces de Ghostbusters, James Bond ou des héros de romans comme Cotton Malone fait partie d'un séjour idéal et réussi !