Orihuela has become one of the locations for Disney’s acclaimed film Tangled. Several historical sites in the town have been given a mediaeval look to recreate the Kingdom of Corona, the fictional territory where the animated adaptation of the classic Rapunzel tale, released by the film studio in 2010, takes place.
The project is part of the new live-action version of the well-known film adaptation of one of the Brothers Grimm’s most famous stories. The production, announced in 2024, is slated to film in various locations within the Valencian Community, as announced on March 27th by the President of the Generalitat, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, during an event in Alicante. Since then, the selection of these locations has generated considerable excitement among film enthusiasts and residents of the municipalities involved.
Although the production company maintains strict control over the details of filming, it was announced that several locations in the province would be part of the production, as well as other places in the country such as Girona, where the casting calls for the film generated chaos with a large number of people interested in appearing in the movie, kilometre-long queues, and some disputes over appointment times. The situation was different in Alicante, where, thanks to the orderliness and the smaller number of applicants, no incidents were reported.
And amidst the anticipation surrounding the live-action Tangled, Orihuela has witnessed a visible transformation of some of the locations selected for filming, adapting to the production’s artistic needs. Decorative elements and settings inspired by the mediaeval era have been incorporated into the architectural ensemble to recreate the characteristic atmosphere of the famous story.
According to the local news outlet Activa Orihuela, which has had access to information regarding the filming that began on Monday, 29th June, shooting is taking place both inside (the cloisters of the Convent and the old University) and outside the Santo Domingo Diocesan School. At these locations, several scenes have been filmed featuring dozens of actors dressed as mediaeval knights, portraying the guardians and defenders of the kingdom.
Likewise, the cloister and other areas of the complex have been transformed with meticulous set design, including tapestries, banners, period furniture, and various props used in the scenes. Furthermore, the interior spaces have been decorated with abundant ornamental vegetation, large vines, and floral elements intended to reinforce the fantastical aesthetic that characterises the production and adapt the building’s architecture to the narrative and visual requirements of the feature film.
Filming schedule
As confirmed by the company during the castings in Girona, the filming schedule in Spain was planned to run from June 24th to July 29th and would include locations in the provinces of Alicante, Tarragona, and Girona. Although the production is subject to changes in the estimated dates, the Ciudad de la Luz film complex is one of the main locations for the Disney film, serving as its residence during its time in Spain.
The arrival of this international film to the province, highlighted by the President of the Generalitat as “a strategic boost to the Valencian audiovisual sector,” has led to the allocation of a direct subsidy of five million euro in the budget “to support the film project’s production during the 2026 fiscal year.” The film is directed by Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman, Better Man) and stars Teagan Croft as Rapunzel. Milo Manheim will play Flynn Rider, Kathryn Hahn will portray Mother Gothel, and Diego Luna will take on a role not seen in the animated adaptation.
Beyond the province, Disney is also building a massive tower over 30 metres tall in La Campa de San Martín, in the Álava municipality of Valdegovía (Basque Country), for the filming of its live-action Tangled movie. This structure aims to recreate in real life the iconic tower where Rapunzel lives completely isolated from the outside world. According to the story, the princess, with magical 21-metre-long golden hair, is kidnapped as a baby by Mother Gothel to use her rejuvenating power and is isolated in this tower.
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