How to visit Plaza de España Star Wars filming location

Want to visit Plaza de España Star Wars filming location in Spain? You’ll find everything you need to know about the location in this article.

Plaza de Espana is a scenic square that lies in the city of Seville.

Its beauty makes it a popular stop for anyone visiting Southern Spain, but there’s another reason to visit, too!

If you’re a Star Wars fan, you probably already know that it played the city of Theed on Naboo in Attack of the Clones (2002). At the plaza, you can follow in Padmé and Anakin’s footsteps and visit Naboo in real life.

Here is a complete guide for the beautiful square and the Plaza de España Star Wars filming location you can visit!

Let’s jump into lightspeed and explore Plaza de España!

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Star Wars filming locations

Star Wars has been filmed in various locations around the world throughout the years. For instance, the Forest Moon of Endor scenes in Return of the Jedi (1983) were filmed in California’s Redwood National and State Parks.

The redwood forest was home to several Native American tribes, including the Miwok, until the 1850s, and it was from the Miwok name that George Lucas derived the name “Ewok” for the film.

Here are more “Star Wars” locations you can visit in real life:

Phang Nga Bay, Thailand (Kashyyyk – Chewbacca’s home planet)
Tunesia (Tatooine – the Lars Homestead, Luke’s childhood home)
Finse, Norway (the frozen backwater world of Hoth where the Rebel Alliance hides)
Wadi Rum, Jordan (the planet Jedha)
Skellig Michael, Ireland (Ahch-To – Luke Skywalker’s retirement planet)
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia (the planet Crait)
Caserta, Italy (The Royal Palace of Naboo)

Star Wars Seville

Plaza de España Star Wars film location

If you’re visiting Seville then you must put Plaza de Espana on your list. The beautiful plaza played the city of Theed on Naboo during Attack of the Clones!

This is where Padmé and Anakin Skywalker walk through the plaza before they go into hiding in Lake Country (Lenno, Italy).

The scene starts with a ship landing in the Plaza de España. Anakin, Padme, and R2D2 walk out.

As they climb the stairs of one of its bridges, Padme speaks of her experience as the youngest queen on Naboo. You can see a beautiful fountain in the background while they’re talking.

They then walk through the building’s corridors, where Padme talks about her childhood, parents and politics during her younger years. The scene ends with Anakin saying that the Republic needs Padme.

Although the scene itself isn’t one of the most thrilling in the movie, the Plaza de España adds a unique feature that makes you feel as though they’ve traveled to another planet.

🎥 Fun fact: The scene was filmed in September 2000. It took 2 days of filming to capture 2 minutes of footage.

Visit Naboo in Seville!

So, yes, if you wanted to visit the city of Theed on Naboo in real life then you only need to visit Plaza de Espana.

The planet Naboo is inhabited by peaceful humans and the intelligent amphibians called the Gungans.

It’s a lush world with a mostly green terrain and majestic palaces. So, Plaza de Espana was not changed much to reflect this in the movie.

In real life, Plaza de Espana is just as peaceful, majestic and very scenic. You’ll instantly recognise Naboo when you visit.

What is Plaza de España in Spain?

Plaza de España is a large, half-elliptical shaped square in Seville.

Built in neo-Mudéjar style, it has a tower at each end and features a 500-meter canal in front of the building, crossed by four Venetian-style bridges.

You can row small boats in the canal, which has given it the nickname, “The Venice of Seville.”

The plaza has a colourful display of ceramic tile panels with maps and historical scenes of Spain’s 49 provinces.

How large is Plaza de España?

Plaza de España measures nearly 200 metres (656 feet) in diameter and spans 50,000 square metres (538,196 square feet), of which 19,000 square metres (204,514 square feet) are taken up by the main building and its two towers.

In other words, Plaza de España is the size of seven football fields!

Plaza de España -Star Wars filming location

Plaza de España history

Plaza de España was constructed in 1928 by Aníbal González as part of the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. The exposition was held in Seville to showcase Spain’s talents in industry and crafts.

The plaza design was inspired by the city’s typical features, incorporating exposed brick, ceramic tiles, and wrought ironwork, and seamlessly blending Baroque Revival, Renaissance Revival, and Neo-Mudéjar styles of Spanish architecture from centuries ago.

Its style highlights the connection between the regions of Spain and their relationship with America.

The project was expensive and labor-intensive for its time; employing more than 1,000 workers at its peak. Despite criticism from both aesthetic and financial standpoints – due to Seville’s poor economic state – Aníbal González resigned in 1926 before anyone else had to take his place.

Vicente Taverner then took over leadership role and completed Plaza de Espana in 1928 following his addition of a central fountain. On April 15th 1930 King Alfonso XIII inaugurated the Fair by taking part in a grand military parade at Plaza de Espana.

Fast forward to 2010, and Plaza de España was refurbished at a cost of 14 million euros. The refurbishment included the addition of 20 period-style ceramic street lamps, 22 new benches, and nearly 500 meters of balustrade showcasing the plaza’s intricate beauty.

Where is Star Wars Plaza de España?

Plaza de España is located in María Luisa park, just across from the University of Seville. It’s in the centre of Seville so you can get there by walking, biking or taking public transportation. It’s a 10-minute walk from Alcazar and Seville Cathedral.

Map of Plaza de Espana

To use the map, click the + and – sign in the corner to zoom in or out.

How to get there

You can get to Plaza de Espana by following the pedestrian entryways where you’ll see bike rental stands and ice-cream vendors (near Teatro Lope de Vega and Fabrica de Tabaco).

You can also get there from Prado de San Sebastián, which is served by metro, bus, and tram, as well as from the river on the opposite side.

Things to do at Plaza de Espana (Naboo)

1. Chase Plaza de Espana Star Wars filming locations

The number one thing to do at Plaza de Espana is finding the Naboo filming location. There are two in total.

The first one is the bridge crossing the canal. See comparison photos below from the movie and real life.
The other, more impressive, filming location is in the north wing.

2. Stroll around the plaza

Most people visit Plaza de Espana to enjoy the scenery and take a quick walk around. Once you’re done finding the Star Wars filming locations, take some time to walk around and admire the grandeur of this place!

3. Explore the 48 alcoves

Along the canal lies a wall adorned with 48 tiled alcoves and benches, each representing one of Spain’s provinces. Ordered alphabetically according to their provinces, each alcove has a name and a coat of arms, a map, and historical facts.

If you’re from Spain, make sure to take a photo of your home province.

4. Notice the bookshelves

Flanking each alcove are a pair of covered bookshelves. The shelves frequently contain books that provide information about the province, including visitors’ favourite novels and other works that are donated for other travelers to look at.

5. Cross the bridges

The four bridges crossing the canal symbolise the four ancient kingdoms of Spain: Castille, Aragon, Navarre, and Leon.

Walk across a bridge or two and be sure to notice their intricate details and colours.

6. Discover the two towers

At the heart of the Plaza de Espana sits a central building with two wings extending outward and ending in two towers, known as the South Tower and the North Tower.

This layout was inspired by 16th century Italian architect Andrea Palladio whom Aníbal González had studied extensively before creating his masterpiece.

7. Take a boat tour

Rowing boats on the canal cost 5 euros for 45 minutes’ hire, and Enriqueta, the motor boat, costs 9 euros.

Taking a boat ride would be a very unique way to explore Naboo and the city of Theed.

8. Walk to Maria Luisa park

Plaza de Espana is located in Parque de María Luisa. If you want to explore the area on foot, you can easily walk there.

In the park, you’ll find an idyllic haven of serenity. Shady footpaths, refreshing fountains, and a landscape full of Mediterranean trees and vibrant flowers – perfect for cooling off on hot days.

Sevilla Star Wars

How long do I need to visit the Star Wars film location?

It’s a large place so I would recommend spending around 60 – 90 minutes at Plaza de Espana. You could easily spend a couple of hours if you wanted to relax for a while, though.

Plaza de Espana opening times

Plaza de Espana is open 24 hours a day so you’re not restricted on when you can visit!

It’s one of the most visited attractions in Seville so you can expect it to be busy throughout the day, but it’s never crowded.

We visited in the afternoon in June, which is the high season, and the plaza was not crowded at all.

Is it free to visit the Plaza de Espana?

Another great thing about visiting Plaza de Espana from Star Wars is that it’s completely FREE.

You don’t need to pay a dime to visit and so it makes a great stop on a Seville itinerary.

When to visit the Plaza de Espana?

The best time to visit Plaza de Espana of Seville is all year round. That’s right – it’s beautiful no matter when you visit.

Another thing is that although it’s one of the most popular attractions in Spain, it doesn’t feel crowded. It’s busier in peak times like the weekends and public holidays, though.

During the early morning, the sun rises from behind the main building, casting much of the square and its galleries in shade until early afternoon.

Personally, I would try to visit the Plaza de Espana in the afternoon on a weekday, but that’s mostly for snapping the best photos.

Afternoon:

In the afternoon, the sun is lower, which create perfect symmetry across the canal. That’s why it’s a great time to capture the best shots of Plaza de Espana.

Plaza de Espana in other films

Aside from the Star Wars movie, Plaza de Espana has served as a popular filming location for several movies such as Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Dictator (2012) and the Netflix series, Kaos (2023).

Tour of Plaza de Espana Sevilla

You can easily explore the plaza on your own, but if you’d like a tour around Plaza de Espana, this 2-hour walking tour takes you through the plaza and Maria Luisa park, while the guide shares the secrets and history behind the place.

You can also book a private photo shoot at the plaza with a professional photographer. That way you’ll be sure to get photos with the best angles and poses – perfect for solo travelers, couples and families.

🙋‍♀️ Plaza de Espana FAQ

Why is Plaza de España famous?

The Plaza de España in Seville, is world-renowned for its grand architecture, iconic fountain and stunning location.

It has served as the backdrop to many films and television shows, including Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Lawrence of Arabia, making it a popular destination for tourists.

Where in Spain was Star Wars filmed?

The Plaza de España in Seville, Spain was used as a filming location for Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. This iconic public square served as Naboo, the stunning planet home to Padmé Amidala and her people.

What country is Naboo based on?

The real-life locations for Naboo, the planet home to Padmé Amidala, were scattered across Seville, Spain; Lake Como and Caserta Palace in Italy; and the buildings of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.

Why was the Plaza de España built in Seville?

Plaza de España in Seville was initially designed and built for the Ibero-American Exposition World’s Fair of 1929.

The event was held with the intention of uniting Spain with its former Latin American colonies by exchanging culture and fostering good relationships among the participating countries.

Looking for more things to do in Seville?

There are plenty of historic attractions in the Andalusian capital to visit after the Plaza de Espana.

If you’re interested in seeing more filming locations, I recommend the Real Alcazar, which is where Dorne is filmed in Game of Thrones. The palace is located 9 minutes walk from Plaza de Espana, in the centre of Seville.