A new “film” route starts this Saturday in Zaragoza with the city as a film set

Discover Zaragoza through the films that have been shot in its streets, squares and most emblematic spaces. That is the objective of the new ” film ” route that will start this Saturday, September 14, at 11:00 am in the Plaza del Pilar. There, the film “Salida de misa de las doce del Pilar” (Departure from the Twelve Hours Mass) will be remembered. The itinerary will cover other areas of the city such as Plaza San Felipe, Plaza Ariño or Paseo Echegaray. The rest of the visits are scheduled for October 19, November 9 and December 14.

Tickets are sold at tourist offices and at www.zaragozaturismotiendaonline.com. The general price is 5.50 euros, 4 euros for large families, youth cards and students, and 2.50 euros for disabled people.

The visit is based on the 95 film productions identified and covers the most important milestones, marked by seven vertical totems that narrate the history of audiovisual production in Zaragoza from the “Salida de misa de doce del Pilar” in 1899 to the present day. In addition to identifying images and texts, the totems placed in different locations have a QR code that links to the Zaragoza Film Office website, where all the information on the routes can be found. Below we show them to you:

PILLAR SQUARE

The first surviving images of Spanish cinema were shot in this very spot by Eduardo Jimeno in 1899. Almost a hundred years later, in 1996, Zaragoza director José Luis Borau filmed a recreation of these same images with the participation of figures from politics, culture and cinema of the time.

An important milestone was the filming of Nobleza Baturra by Joaquín Dicenta in 1925. The advertising for this film highlighted that it was the “only one in which the interior of the Chapel of the Virgen del Pilar is shown.”

Then, in 1961, filming was done again inside the Pilar for the movie Alerta en el cielo, in which the child star of the time, Pablito Calvo, passes through the mantle of the Virgin accompanied by a little child.

Very close by, in the Pasaje del Ciclón, a scene from the comedy Let the Ugly Die, by Nacho García Velilla (2010), was filmed.

ECHEGARAY WALK – STONE BRIDGE

The view of Zaragoza over the Ebro has been the favourite for centuries by artists who have depicted the city and has also been chosen by many film-makers such as Florián Rey, Juan de Orduña and José María Forqué. In “Carreteras secundarios” by Emilio Martínez Lázaro (1997), based on the book by the Zaragoza writer Ignacio Martínez de Pisón, the unmistakable silhouette of the Pilar appears through the window in a scene between the two main actors, Antonio Resines and Fernando Ramallo. The Iron Bridge is also the scene of the escape of the protagonist of Culpable para un crimen (1966), a film noir by José Antonio Duce.

ARINO SQUARE

In Plaza de Ariño, there is a sculpture in honour of Eduardo Jimeno Correas (Zaragoza, 1870-1947), who filmed one of the first Spanish cinema films in Plaza del Pilar. The sculpture shows one of the first Spanish film directors filming the scene.

SAN FELIPE SQUARE

The streets and squares of the Old Town have also been the setting for many films. We have been able to see Calle Alfonso in recent films such as De tu ventana a la mía (2012) by Paula Ortiz or Nuestros enamorados (2016) by Miguel Ángel Lamata. Plaza de Santa Cruz and the surrounding streets appear in Carreteras Secundarias (1997) by Martínez Lázaro. Callejón del Desengaño, next to Calle Fuenclara, plays an important role in the multi-award-winning Las niñas (2020) by Pilar Palomero. The San Pablo neighbourhood can be seen in some scenes of Bendita calamidad (2015) by Gaizka Aurresti. And Pablo Gargallo’s own museum has a major role in Miau, (2018), the comedy by Ignacio Estaregui.

SPAIN SQUARE. INDEPENDENCE WALKWAY

In this area of ​​Plaza de España, El Tubo and Paseo de la Independencia scenes were filmed for the movie Perros callejeros II (1979) by José Antonio de la Loma, the main representative of the so-called “quinqui cinema” that was so fashionable in the 70s and 80s. Paseo Independencia is also the setting for the end of Una de zombies, (2004) by Zaragoza-born Miguel Ángel Lamata.

HISTORICAL STUDY OF ZARAGOZA CINEMA

The city’s interest in the seventh art has always been very important. Right from the start, it was chosen as a place for pre-releases and audience studies due to its tradition and for having a very varied, educated and demanding public. In the Aragonese capital, some of the first permanent cinemas for the exhibition of films were opened, ahead of some of the great capitals of Spain. Throughout the 20th century, buildings were designed that brought modernity, such as the Cine Dorado, the work of Lagunas, Aguayo and Laguardia. In short, large cinemas in the centre such as the Coliseo, the Palafox or the Fleta, but also small re-release venues in all neighbourhoods that allowed everyone to enjoy the big screen.

Zaragoza has also been the setting for filming movies and series. Since the appearance of cinema until today, its streets, squares and main spaces have served as sets for the filming of works of all genres.

Currently, Zaragoza is also the venue for various film competitions, such as the Saraqusta Film Festival, for historical films and series; the International Film Festival made by women; Zinentiendo, a show on LGTBQ+ topics; Ecozine and La Mirada Tabú, an international short film festival.