It’s hard to believe that 24 years have passed since the first movie, but the truth is that the idea for ‘Gladiator’ was born in 1972. David Franzoni, who ended up writing the script for the film, took a long vacation in Europe after college. He visited a large number of amphitheaters, coliseums, and arenas still preserved from the Roman era, and became fascinated by the subject.
‘Gladiator’ is considered by many to be one of the best films of the 21st century due to the epic nature of its story, its Shakespearean elements and its stunning visuals and music.
But its locations also stand out: vast coliseums and arenas, deserts, palaces, forests and Mediterranean landscapes that immerse the viewer in Ancient Rome.
Several locations were considered as the script was being developed, with the final four main locations being: Morocco, Malta, England and Spain.
‘GLADIATOR’ IN ENGLAND
Who doesn’t remember the battle that opens Ridley Scott’s film?
It takes place in the Bourne Forest, located in the English county of Surrey.
When Ridley Scott learned that the organization responsible for managing British forests had plans to cut down the woods, he convinced them to let him film the scene there and set the forest on fire in the process.
It took him three weeks to film this sequence and it involved several hundred extras and functional war machinery. Undoubtedly, a battle to remember.
Ridley Scott is very familiar with these “battlefields” since he was born in South Shields, England. It’s a trip worth taking if you end up in Surrey.
MAXIMUS IN THE DESERT
After being betrayed by his own army, Maximus wandered through a desolate desert with no hope. That desert can be found in Spain, specifically in the Tabernas Desert, also known as the “Texas of Spain.”
This location has been used in countless American and Italian productions, from Spaghetti Westerns to major films like ‘Lawrence of Arabia‘ and ‘Indiana Jones‘.
You can visit its vast, imposing plains with a specialized guide. Some film sets from the 1960s and 70s have been preserved as a tribute.
If you want to visit them, it’s important to book tours that allow you to access these areas.
There are options to explore them by horseback or in 4×4 vehicles—a complete adventure indeed!
EXTREMADURA: MORE THAN JUST MAXIMUS’ BIRTHPLACE
Spain is a country full of tourist destinations full of Roman ruins . It’s no surprise that the birthplace of Maximus was set in Hispania, more specifically in Trujillo (Cáceres).
In Trujillo, you can visit, among other places, the Roca Casterly, the Lannister family’s settlement in ‘Game of Thrones‘ and ‘House of the Dragon‘.
Less than an hour’s drive from Trujillo is the Mérida Amphitheater.
This wonderfully preserved Roman Amphitheater, dating from the 1st century BC, was used for the gladiator battles depicted in the movie. You can visit it with this tour that will immerse you in the life of Ancient Rome in the city of Mérida!
Being located in the ancient Roman city of Emérita Augusta makes it a perfect setting to recreate realistic fights in the arena!
ON TO MOROCCO
The ‘Gladiator’ production then moved to Morocco, where there was a lot of room for improvisation.
Ouarzazate and the Atlas Studios brought to life the gladiator school where Maximus was sold as a slave.
The Atlas Corporation Studios are the largest film studios in the world!!
Over 30,000 square meters of desert, where not only ‘Gladiator‘ was filmed, but also ‘Game of Thrones‘, ‘Babel‘ and ‘The Mummy‘.
This massive film set is open to the public, even if there isn’t a shoot happening on the day of your visit. Admission fee is less than €5.
You can visit the studios and enjoy the breathtaking Sahara Desert on amazing tours.
Great scenes of slaves gathered, desert journeys, and combat trainings were filmed at the base of the Atlas Mountains.
The amphitheater where Maximus fights his first battles was built with local materials and techniques by making 30,000 adobe bricks. A part of this set is still open to visitors.
The architecture of the area, with its geometric shapes and colourful designs, and the surrounding natural beauty of AIT BEN HADDOU, led to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Not only was it a location for ‘Gladiator’, but also for other massive productions like ‘Game of Thrones‘.
MAXIMUS IN THE CAPITAL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE: ROME… OR SHOULD WE SAY MALTA!
Finally, Maximus ascends as the undefeated gladiator and arrives at the capital of the Roman Empire.
The scenes of ancient Rome were filmed over 19 weeks at Fort Ricasoli in Malta, where a replica of a third of the Colosseum was built, nearly 16 meters high and mostly made of plaster and plywood.
This replica took several months to construct and cost about a million dollars. The remaining two-thirds of the Colosseum’s height was added digitally.
Ridley Scott insisted that nothing should be filmed unless it felt real on camera. Extras, as well as the leading actor, performed many of the fights and stunt scenes. Wild animals, like lions, were used, but no animals were harmed during filming.
It was in this set where Maximus delivers the famous line that still resonates with viewers: “I am the father of a murdered son, husband of a murdered wife, and I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.”
This set was reused for the sequel, 24 years later. The scale of the images and battles in the new film doubles that of the original.
A naumachia (a spectacular naval battle reenactment) was filmed here to become one of the most promising sequences of ‘Gladiator 2.’
In Valletta, within the Upper Barracca Gardens, some of the more political sequences from the 2000 film were shot.
The location is iconic for its visual impact, as are the Ricasoli and San Angelo forts, which were used both in the original movie and its sequel.
An unforgettable experience for any movie fan!
Although the best location for filming ‘Gladiator‘ or ‘Gladiator 2‘ would have been the Colosseum itself, this wasn’t possible.
However, there is no better place to feel like you’re in Ancient Rome!
Currently, it’s possible to tour the Colosseum and cross the Gladiator’s Gate. Some options include:
Colosseum Rome Tour: Access to the Gladiator’s Arena.
Small group experience (max. 6 people) with skip-the-line access.
If you really want to feel like a true gladiator, you can sign up for the Gladiator School!
Yes, you read that right!
It’s an immersive 2-hour experience where you’ll learn to fight with authentic weapons from the period, dressed in traditional tunics and belts. Located on the Appian Way, not far from the Colosseum, this class offers a unique, interactive way to learn about Roman history, sports, and culture—just like in ‘Gladiator‘.
We hope you enjoy a one-of-a-kind cinematic journey! If you want to find more information about filming locations of your favourite shows and plan your own movie trip, visit us at screenbie.com!
