Preparations for Game of Thrones season 5 filming in Seville and Osuna under way

Though specific shooting sites have yet to be officially confirmed by HBO, the Spanish cities of Seville and Osuna have begun preparations for filming the fifth season of Game of Thrones, according to several new reports.

According to ABC.es, the search for locations in Spain began in March, with Game of Thrones production members visiting the Alcázar of Seville. Though HBO has not confirmed the alcázar’s choice officially, CNN spoke with staff at the castle recently and received confirmation from employees on site that the show will be filming there. ABC.es reports that the show has already booked a hundred hotel rooms in Seville for filming this year.

For casting preparations, Fresco Film Productions has put out a call on Facebook for extras for GoT.

According to El Mundo, who spoke with Rosario Andújar, the mayor of Osuna, production members have visited several sites that may serve as filming locations. These unconfirmed sites include:

• The Plaza de Toros. Over a hundred years old, the bull ring walls are made of sandstone. (Pictured above.)

• The University. Built in 1548 with four towers and influences from the Italian Renaissance, much of the University has been converted to modern classrooms, but parts of it retain the original design, including the the chapel, the Sala de la Girona, and the courtyard.

• La Colegiata. Located by the university, this church was founded in 1535.

• The Canteras de Osuna. The old quarries that supplied the stones for the town’s structures were visited as well.

Ours is the Fury: The bull ring, assuming it will be confirmed officially, has to be Daznak’s Pit, prominent in Dany’s storyline in A Dance with Dragons. Many fans guessed the show might use a bull ring for the pit’s arena when Spain was selected as a location, and the Osuna ring looks ideal. The other locations offer a variety of options, and I could imagine some being used for both Dorne and Meereen locations. The Alcázar of Seville will make a fantastic Water Gardens, without a doubt.

Here are a few more images of the locations to enjoy:

• Published on 07/04/2014 at 12:17 PM CDT
• Last updated on 10/21/2016 at 12:41 PM CDT