Living in the Costa Blanca – Films and TV Show Locations

Those of us who living in the Costa Blanca were attracted to the wonderful scenery of this beautiful area on the Mediterranean coast, the wonderful climate and the light produced by the sun and sea. It is these same elements that have attracted film and TV production teams to the area for many decades now and below are just a few examples of stories that have used the Costa Blanca as their backdrop.

Film Sets on the Costa Blanca

One of the earliest films to use the beautiful Costa Blanca towns of Javea and Denia as a location was Captain Jones (John Paul Jones) in 1959 which starred the legendary actress, Bette Davies. Javea’s Arenal beach is disguised as an island and a small square in Denia was used as the location for the Scottish village where Captain John Paul Jones was born. The film is the semi-biographical story of a Scottish marine who joined the US Navy and became a hero of the American revolution and, although uncredited, gave budding actress Mia Farrow her debut role.

The early 60’s brought film maker Peter Ustinov to the shores of the Costa Blanca to film the Infernal Frigate (Billy Budd) using the area as a backdrop about an English warship during the Napoleonic wars with the Montgo appearing from the sea in the background and Portitxol can also be seen. Later during this decade Krakatoa, East of Java used the Montgo natural park as the setting for this action adventure about a dangerous mission to the island of Krakatoa.

The early 70’s brought incons of cinema Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Welch, Faye Dunaway and Charlton Heston to the shores of the Costa Blanca to make the film The Three Musketeers: The Queen’s Diamonds. Javea port and Cap de Sant Antoni were used as locations. This was quickly followed by The Four Musketeers: Milady’s Revenge adding Michael York, Oliver Reed and others to the cast list and filming a number of scenes in Denia. The novel by Jules Verne was brought to life by Kirk Douglas and Yul Bryner in the film of The Lighthouse at the End of the World where the coast of Javea is used to recreate Cape Horn.

A Spy in my Bedroom was filmed in the late 80’s and starred a young Kim Cattrall, this comedy film is part of the Police Academy franchise and was filmed partly in Javea including in the historic centre, Duanes de la Mar and Las Planes. More recently scenery of both Moraira and Javea can be seen in the 2012 Bruce Wills and Signourney Weaver film The Cold Light of Day.

There are many, many, more so it is not unusual to spot familiar film and TV faces during a walk round your Costa Blanca hometown and on occasions you might see the opportunity advertised to audition for a part as an extra. 

Other locations in the Costa Blanca also attract the imagination of film and tv producers with locations in Torrevieja, Elche, Santa Pola and Benidorm recently being used to film the State of Prey which is a crime thriller about an MI6 agent who is investigating the connection between the local mafia and the Beijing underworld in the Costa Blanca, filming

Television filmed in the Costa Blanca

The new miniseries Past Lies (Las largas sombras) to be streamed on the Disney channel is set on the Costa Blanca as well as in other areas of Spain. This is a Spanish thriller-drama series which follows the story of women whose lives have become entwined in a web of secrets and deceit, scenes have been shot in Denia, Benidorm, Altea and other parts of the Valencian Community.

Benidorm itself has, of course, been the location now for the comedy series about British holidaymakers for many years now and has brought the town more tourists who wish to visit the bars and hotel where the series was filmed and also to hire mobility scooters to get around the town. During episodes of the program, you also get to see some of the wonderful spots that can be visited in the area including the Algar Falls and Altea. Prior to 

Buying a Property in the Costa Blanca

In addition to the fictional dramas and comedies set in our beautiful part of Spain there are also many television programs showing property and locations to others who hope to follow in our footsteps and move to the Costa Blanca. If you haven’t yet moved here and are just starting your journey perhaps watching some of the film and TV series located here will encourage you and at Hamiltons of London we will be very happy to assist with your search for your dream home in Spain.