Shubhabrata Dutta
The second part of Hallmark’s ‘To Barcelona’ duology, ‘To Barcelona, Forever’ picks up several months after the events of ‘To Barcelona, With Love.’ Directed by Ron Oliver, who has also directed the first one, the story follows Anna, who returns to Barcelona for Erica and Nico’s wedding. What was to be a celebration of the union of two souls takes the shape of an unlikely engagement after Anna bumps into a charming local farmer named Javier. There is an immediate attraction, and as she helps him save his family’s legacy, sparks begin to fly. However, Javier’s family is all for love and togetherness, and this affects Anna’s moments with Javier. As sweet as the family is, too much sweetness can get sour with time, and she must balance it with other ingredients, like time and patience. While sharing its backdrops with ‘To Barcelona, With Love,’ ‘To Barcelona, Forever’ expands its visual canvas to not only incorporate the new love story but also to enhance the quintessential Hallmark charm.
Where was To Barcelona Forever Filmed?
‘To Barcelona Forever’ was filmed on location in Spain, specifically in Barcelona and the Basque Country. Principal photography reportedly began in the second half of February 2025 and lasted for around six weeks before wrapping up towards the end of March of the same year. “It was really important that we, even though we were shooting in a different country, and the concept was a little bit outside the box, it was still really important that it had all of the feels and that it looked and walked and talked like a Hallmark movie just in a different location,” Ashley Williams, who plays Anna, told US Weekly.
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, which is in Spain’s autonomous community of Catalonia, was used extensively for filming ‘To Barcelona, Forever.’ A Spanish crew was hired, and despite there being a language barrier, the team overcame it and other challenges and worked hard and swift to give shape to a true-to-form Hallmark romance. Since the schedule was tight, there were times when the crew had to film a few scenes from the first movie and some from the second movie on the same days.
Well-known areas, like those near Casa Batlló, located at 43 Passeig de Gràcia in the Eixample district, and the Illa de la Discòrdia block, became backdrops for several scenes. The production could not close zones for filming, so extras were hired who would provide a pass in case of retakes. Thus, most of the people in the background are people who aren’t acting but are just in the scene. “You are seeing real people who are really going to the market and really ordering fish for dinner and picking up their olives and a smoothie. That was genuinely happening all around us,” Alison Sweeney, who plays Erica, told US Weekly. Many real food stalls, marketplaces, and streets were decorated with banners and signs of Sant Jordi Day, AKA Saint George’s Day, which the movie centers around.
La Rambla, a popular street in central Barcelona, was used as the background of many outdoor sequences to enhance the Spanish aesthetic. Replete with markets and eateries, including the La Boqueria market, considered the most globally famous market in Barcelona, it is a must-visit for tourists. The crew also taped a few scenes in front of the iconic Catholic church Sagrada Familia at 401 Carrer de Mallorca, and Barcelona Cathedral, AKA Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, located at Pla de la Seu.
A few sequences were also taped at Parc De La Barcelonetta, located at 15, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta in Ciutat Vella. The park offers gorgeous views of the Mediterranean Sea and provides a soothing shift from the brick-laced backdrops in the movie. “We got to shoot at all the major spots, so people who are watching this movie and can’t travel to Barcelona, you don’t need to, because we’re bringing you there with this movie,” Williams stated while speaking to Swooon. Other projects shot in the city include ‘The Lady’s Companion,’ ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona,’ and ‘Through My Window.’
Basque Country, Spain
In the Basque Country, an autonomous community in northern Spain, the crew accessed several areas of Biscay province for shooting. Bilbao, the capital of Biscay, became the backdrop for many scenes, including establishing shots. The town of Getxo was also accessed for several sequences, including in the area near Arrantzale Taberna, a bar at 3 Portu Zaharra. It is popular among locals for its Basque food, drinks, and relaxing outdoor seating arrangement.
The city of San Sebastián, AKA Donostia-San Sebastián, capital of the Guipúzcoa province, is yet another gorgeous location used to highlight the movie’s setting. A few scenes were filmed in gondolas, which, besides being a part of the unique conditions the crew had to work in, integrate the culture of Spain into the narrative. The Vizcaya Bridge, AKA the Bizkaia Bridge, in Getxo is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre known for its gondola system that people use to travel across the Ibaizabal estuary.
To Barcelona, Forever Cast Details
The ‘Barcelona, With Love’ cast is led by Alison Sweeney, Ashley Williams, Alejandro Tous, and Miguel Brocca. Health-conscious Alison loved avocados. She is into social work and supports many foundations, like Feeding America and Clothes Off Our Back. Ashley is a certified birth companion and has assisted more than 50 women in welcoming their babies. Alejandro dreamt of becoming a veterinarian or a firefighter when he was a kid, but eventually turned his attention to performing arts and ultimately acting. Miguel can play the piano very well and is very good at basketball and boxing. His other extracurricular activities include horse riding, sword fighting, and swimming. The ‘To Barcelona’ movies serve as the Hallmark debut for Alejandro and Miguel.
Alison Sweeney as Erica
Alison Sweeney reprises her role as Erica in ‘To Barcelona, Forever.’ She is a familiar face in Hallmark movies, having played Tracy Serchio in ‘The Wedding Veil’ collection, Ellen Branford in ‘The Irresistible Blueberry Farm,’ Alex McPherson in ‘Chronicle Mysteries’ collection, and Hannah Swensen in ‘Hannah Swensen Mysteries’ collection. You may also recognize her as Sami Brady from NBC’s ‘Days of Our Lives.’ Her other Hallmark projects are the ‘Murder, She Baked’ movies, ‘Love & Jane,’ ‘Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas,’ and ‘A Magical Christmas Village.’
Ashley Williams as Anna
Ashley Williams returns as Anna, the author, in the movie. She shares her reputation as a Hallmark favorite with Sweeney. You can spot her in movies like ‘Sister Swap’ collection as Meg Swift, ‘Two Tickets to Paradise’ as Hannah, ‘Small Town Setup‘ as the host, ‘Falling Together’ as Natalie Calder, and ‘Jingle Bell Run’ as Avery. She is well-known for playing Victoria in ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and Deputy Lange in ‘A Most Violent Year.’
Alejandro Tous as Nico
Alejandro Tous reprises his role as Nico in ‘To Barcelona, Forever.’ He is a common face on Spanish TV and can be seen as Ramón in ‘L’Alqueria Blanca,’ León Robles in ‘Mentes en shock,’ Alex in ‘Vida perfecta,’ and Mario in ‘Cuestión de sexo.’ He also has a handful of feature film performances to his credit, including Marido Amiga Común in ‘More the Merrier,’ Guillermo in ‘Estándar,’ Tony in ‘Fishbone,’ and Castro in ‘Ni pies ni cabeza.’
Miguel Brocca as Javier
Miguel Brocca returns as Javier, a lead, in ‘To Barcelona, Forever.’ He made his acting debut as a Scottish captain in ‘Queens.’ Akin to Tous, Brocca is primarily known for his roles in Spanish shows. Some of his notable performances are Diego Vargas in ‘Mía es la venganza,’ Stefano Torres in ‘Isla Brava,’ Sergio in ‘Dos vidas,’ and Marc in ‘The Girls at the Back.’ In the movie ‘Disco, Ibiza, Locomia,’ he plays the role of Luis Balaguer. While Sweeney, Williams, Tous, and Miguel play the leads, the movie is brought to life by a talented additional cast. It includes Paloma Montero as Rosa, José Emilio Vera as Carlos, Alex Sorian Brown as Miguel, and Natalia Braceli as the waitress.
Read More: To Barcelona With Love: Filming Locations and Cast Details
