Desert Stars

During the Seventies, Sergio Leone’s wise insight brought America to Spain, in the lands of Andalusia, more precisely in the region that includes the Tabernas desert.

A great deal of films were shot in Tabernas since then, to such an extent that over the decades it became the ideal set not only for western movies, but for different genres, as well.

The European Film Academy recently awarded the Andalusian desert as “Treasure of European Film Culture” for the uniqueness of this location.

Now that the myth of the Old West has faded, the locations around Tabernas are mostly abandoned or have been converted into amusement parks.

What is left is a constellation of sector operators, actors, costume designers, stuntmen and nostalgics.

Desert Stars is a journey in search of strangers: lone stars who have found their heav- en among the desert dust and the faint aura of a bygone era of cinema.

A lonely, romantic deja vu, guarded by muggy mountains, awaiting its finale.

© Andrea Pugiotto - José, taking a break outside Rancho Leone Bar, Tabernas, Spain.
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José, taking a break outside Rancho Leone Bar, Tabernas, Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - Diego, mechanic and professional stuntman at Cantina del Diablo ,Tabernas, Spain.
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Diego, mechanic and professional stuntman at Cantina del Diablo ,Tabernas, Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - ALFARO Restaurant, Tabernas, Spain.
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ALFARO Restaurant, Tabernas, Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - Detail of Cantina del Diablo’s door. The bar used to be a brothel, and each door has a small peephole ,Tabernas, Spain.
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Detail of Cantina del Diablo’s door. The bar used to be a brothel, and each door has a small peephole ,Tabernas, Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - Image from the Desert Stars photography project
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John and Janine at the Sweetwater Ranch.A couple of actors, costume designers and Western movie aficionados, who moved from England to Tabernas, Tabernas, Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - Image from the Desert Stars photography project
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In 2014, director Ridley Scott picked the Tabernas Desert as the main shooting location for his movie “Exodus”. Once done shooting, the whole set was abandoned , Tabernas ,Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - Plácido and Cristina, Rancho Malcaminos , Tabernas, Spain.
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Plácido and Cristina, Rancho Malcaminos , Tabernas, Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - Curro Trinidad walking in the Tabernas Desert, Spain.
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Curro Trinidad walking in the Tabernas Desert, Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - Carretera Nacional, Tabernas , Spain.
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Carretera Nacional, Tabernas , Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - Rafael and Leal, Tabernas , Spain.
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Rafael and Leal, Tabernas , Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - José at Rancho Leone Bar, Tabernas, Spain.
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José at Rancho Leone Bar, Tabernas, Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - One of Leo’s favorite guns. He rents out costumes and prop guns for the movies. Armería Leonardo. Almería, Spain.
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One of Leo’s favorite guns. He rents out costumes and prop guns for the movies. Armería Leonardo. Almería, Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - Leal, actor and stuntman. Tabernas Desert, Spain.
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Leal, actor and stuntman. Tabernas Desert, Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - Tabernas Desert, Spain.
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Tabernas Desert, Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - Western show finale at Fort Bravo, Tabernas Desert, Spain.
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Western show finale at Fort Bravo, Tabernas Desert, Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - Image from the Desert Stars photography project
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Fort Bravo, a filming location that was abandoned after the Western boom in the Seventies. It has now been restored and is used as a movie set and as an amusement park for tourists.

© Andrea Pugiotto - Curro Trinidad, actor and stuntman in Fort Bravo, Tabernas , Spain
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Curro Trinidad, actor and stuntman in Fort Bravo, Tabernas , Spain

© Andrea Pugiotto - Rafael and Leal, Tabernas , Spain.
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Rafael and Leal, Tabernas , Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - Tabernas Desert, Spain.
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Tabernas Desert, Spain.

© Andrea Pugiotto - John, actor and stuntman wanders nearby his Sweetwater Ranch.
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John, actor and stuntman wanders nearby his Sweetwater Ranch.

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