Sometimes you don’t have to cross the pond to feel like you’re walking through the Wild West. There are spots that, through a geological fluke or a twist of fate, seem to have been torn from another continent and transplanted right in the middle of the Iberian Peninsula. Such is the case with the Rambla de Barrachina, a gorge of red earth that for decades was the locals’ best-kept secret and has suddenly become the favorite filming location of major directors.
What was a regular walking spot for locals is now known to the rest of the world as the “Spanish Colorado.” A landscape where iron oxide has stained the walls a magnetic red that shifts in hue depending on how the sun hits it. It is a living, fragile landscape: every time it rains heavily, the water carves new cracks into the soft clay, reshaping the landscape in real time as if it were an infinite clay sculpture that never quite finishes drying.
An extreme shoot amid raves and nominations
The main reason this spot is now on everyone’s lips is Oliver Laxe. His latest film, ‘Sirat,’ Spain’s Oscar contender following its success at Cannes, chose the Rambla de Barrachina not only as a setting but as a key element of its narrative. To recreate an authentic rave in the middle of the desert, the crew didn’t rely on digital effects; they threw a real party with over a thousand people, thunderous music, and sound that echoed off the clay walls.
But while Laxe’s film planted the seed, the final touch of glamour came from Johnny Depp. The actor arrived in the province to shoot the new Dior commercial, transforming the ravine into the setting for a high-end production that brought over a hundred professionals to the area. The most curious thing about the shoot wasn’t seeing the star of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ among the Teruel ravines, but the presence of a real puma that reinforced the wild aesthetic the brand was seeking for its fragrance.
For those who dare to emulate the stars and visit this spot, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. The main route, which usually starts near Villaspesa, offers a circular hike of about 12 kilometers where you can climb up to the Muela de Teruel for the best views. That said, the locals are clear: there are no shadows here. If you’re planning to go, make sure to bring plenty of water and avoid the middle of the day, because the sun in this Aragonese canyon spares no one—not even those coming from Hollywood.
How to get there from Barcelona
Toreach the Rambla de Barrachina from Barcelona, the fastest and most comfortable option is by car, a journey of approximately 4 hours (about 430 km). You should take the AP-7 southbound to the vicinity of Castellón, then connect to the A-23 (Autovía Mudéjar), which will take you directly to the Teruel exit.
Once in the capital of Teruel, simply follow the signs to the Villaspesa neighborhood; from there, access to the dirt roads that lead into this “Aragonese Colorado” is just a few minutes away, allowing you to go from the Catalan Ramblas to the red canyons of Hollywood in a single morning.
