I’ve just returned from Malta where I took a (very hot) trip to Mdina, a walled city which was the capital in ancient times. It’s a pretty amazing place to visit anyway for the gorgeous architecture and narrow winding streets – locals call it The Silent City which is incredibly suggestive of mystery and drama, but I was doubly excited because it was the film location for King’s Landing in season 1 of HBO’s Game of Thrones. As you can see from the pictures below, I managed to find the filming location of the main gate to King’s Landing (easy) and Petyr Baelish AKA Littlefinger’s brothel (trickier, you need to look for Piazza Mesquita which isn’t shown on the tourist maps).

Screenshots from Game of Thrones are the property of HBO

Visiting the real life locations of the filming was incredible, and I think that the screenshots next to my photographs in the collage above really show the artistry of the set designers and artists who work on the production to adapt George R.R. Martin’s books for the screen. The changes they’ve made to the landscape are fairly minimal – the ground has been reddened and made to look dirtier and earthier, awnings of rustic fabrics have been draped over doorways and obvious modern features removed, but these subtle changes have such a profound effect when coupled with the presence of actors in costume on horseback. It really becomes a fantasy world. Not only is it a testament to the skills of everyone who worked on the production, but it speaks volumes about the beauty of Mdina. If you’re ever in Malta, I highly recommend a visit.