GoT arrives in Barri Vell
Background props for the show were yesterday moved into position in Girona's old quarter
Five businesses will have to close for a few hours or even days while filming takes place
Girona's old quarter, the Barri Vell, has begun to be taken over by Game of Thrones. After weeks of anticipation over the start of filming of the hit TV series, yesterday morning preparation work began in earnest in different city streets to ready them for filming of the HBO television programme.
The preparations were particularly visible on carrer Ferran el Catòlic, from the Arab Baths to the church of Sant Lluc. This stretch of the street was closed off to pedestrians while background props for the set were put into position. Carts, a boat, barrels, market stalls, all arrived in rental vans at the parking area that has been reserved on carrer Bellaire, before being moved to the filming site. Meanwhile, municipal workers removed elements of street furniture, such as rubbish bins, signposts and bollards, from the end of the street in front of the church.
At the end of the set, workers took down a street light on carrer de Santa Llúcia, where the road rises in front of the monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants. While the set remains –until September 16– access to the Arab Baths is through the plaça dels Jurats.
Five businesses to close
Filming of the television show will affect various businesses in the Barri Vell over the next three weeks, some of which will have to close for hours and even days. So far there are five businesses affected: L'Arc bar and the Bau-Bar in the plaça de la Catedral, Le Bistrot restaurant and Joan Ensesa's metal restoration workshop on Sant Domènec, as well as El Didal bar near carrer Claveria. These establishments will be compensated for any financial losses during the tourist season. This is the case of L'Arc bar, one of the owners of which explained that they will be forced to close for two days, although they still do not know which ones. While confirming that they would receive compensation, the owner preferred not to say how much it would amount to.
Other establishments close to the filming areas have so far had no further warnings, suggesting that they will not be affected. Isabel Masó, from La Taverna de l'Abat, has a terrace in front of Sant Pere Galligants, a few metres from where the street light was removed. She says that no one has yet told her whether she will be affected by the filming. In fact, the lack of information has been the source of complaints from locals, despite the council distributing 4,000 leaflets and holding meetings with neighbourhood representatives. The local authority has said it will continue to provide detailed information as it is confirmed.
Filming in 15 city spaces over three weeks
The filming of the next season of Game of Thrones is scheduled to take place over the next three weeks in some 15 different spaces, streets and squares in the city. As a consequence of the filming, the circulation of vehicles and pedestrians will be restricted at one time or another while the shooting takes place.
Apart from the preparations that were carried out yesterday on carrer Ferran el Catòlic and carrer Bellaire, which will be occupied until 16/9, the following places in the city will also become the sites of shooting the series on the days indicated: Bisbe Cartañà from 30/8 to 7/9, Pujada de Sant Martí from 28/8 to 1/9 will be affected in part and will be completely closed from 2/9 to 6/9, carrer de la Claveria from 30/8 to 7/9, carrer de l'Escola Pia from 3/9 to 7/9, carrer de Sant Llorenç from 1/9 to 7/9, plaça dels Jurats from 27/8 to 14/9, Escales de la Catedral from 11/9 to 16/9, carrer dels Manaies from 7/9 to 16/9, Pujada de Sant Feliu from 2/9 to 4/9 and from 13/9 to 16/9, the loading area in plaça de l'Oli from 4/9 to 5/9, plaça Sant Pere from 30/8 to 16/9, plaça dels Apòstols and plaça dels Lledoners from 30/8 to 8/9 and from 11/9 to 16/9, plaça de Sant Domènec from 1/9 to 15/9.