Summer is going by fast and none of us want to waste it but, finding travel inspiration can become a job in itself. Whether you’re a big fan of the Star Wars movies or you’ve never seen one, you can find plenty of summer destinations hidden in each one. Check out a few of the best Star Wars locations around the world:
Tunisia
Most of the original Tatooine footage was filmed in Tunisia in North Africa, where the sets are still a popular tourist destination. There is even a hotel in one of remaining buildings where diehard fans can stay. A total of four Star Wars movies were filmed in Tunisia and most of the sets are still intact. For more info, visit Tunsia.com.
Mount Etna, Italy
Mount Etna isn’t just Europe’s largest active volcano; it was also used as the digital background when Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker fought on Mustafar in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. The backdrop for the Star Wars scene was shot while Etna was erupting, but it’s much easier – and more practical – to visit the Italian mountain when it is quiet. Driving directions and tour information can be found on the Etna administrative headquarters’ website.
A visit to the Letterman Digital Arts Center at the Presidio Trust in San Francisco, home to Lucasfilm Ltd., Industrial Light and Magic, LucasArts and the George Lucas Educational Foundation is a must for any Star Wars fan. These buildings aren’t open to the public, but fans are welcome to visit the lobby of Building B to see some of the Star Wars memorabilia on display, tour the gardens or take photos with their famous Yoda statue.
Yuma Desert, USA
Due to budgetary constraints, producers decided to shoot some desert scenes in Buttercup Valley, CA, rather than return to Tunisia, for Return of the Jedi. The location was used for the Great Pit of Carkoon on the Dune Sea. Filming took place in the spring of 1982 with most of the crew staying in nearby Yuma, AZ for the duration of shooting.
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Please come to Yuma – but save it for a winter treat, as summer temperatures can be a little toasty! But it’s the perfect sunshiny pick-me-up for a cold dark February!