Shubhabrata Dutta
Netflix’s Spanish romance thriller series ‘The Gardener,’ originally titled ‘El Jardinero,’ revolves around Elmer, a young man with an affinity for plants and trees. Having lost his ability to feel emotions after a childhood accident, he has become the “butler for butcher” of his mother, La China Jurado. She runs a garden center, which is a front for her murder-for-hire business, wherein Elmer is her dear assassin. While both businesses have been lucrative, thanks to Elmer, things start getting complex when he is given his next target, a preschool teacher, Violeta.
Elmer’s emotions and feelings begin to return, and he finds himself attracted to her, and she, too, reciprocates. Needless to say, Jurado is forced to take steps to prevent her business from falling apart. Created by Miguel Sáez Carra, ‘The Gardener’ uses the character development of the protagonist, from a greenery-prone stone-cold killer to a love-fueled person inundated with emotions, to showcase various locations that serve the purpose of the fictional narrative while giving it a realistic touch.
The Gardener Filming Locations
Filming of ‘The Gardener’ led the production crew to gorgeous locations across northwestern Spain, focusing on the provinces of Pontevedra, Toledo, and Madrid. Principal photography began in January 2024 and continued for a handful of months before wrapping up by the end of June of the same year. The cast and crew had a blast making the whole project, with the locales turning it into a trip, thanks to the exotic lush greenery and the historical and urban architecture.
Pontevedra, Spain
Most of the production of ‘The Gardener’ took place in the province of Pontevedra, in Galicia, an autonomous Spanish community. Nature being a core aspect of the show, the filming crew scouted the most iconic and exotic locations, incorporating beautiful gardens, orchards, vineyards, and other attractive natural environments, almost turning the locations into characters themselves. The city is also the hometown of José Manuel Lorenzo, one of the show’s executive producers; his knowledge enabled the team to utilize diverse backgrounds for various scenes while maintaining a unique style.
The production crew accessed the gardens of the 15th-century Pazo de Lourizán estate, located at Estrada Pontevedra-Marín, km 4, 36153, in Agrovello, to highlight the greenery evident in the show. Using the vast gardens in the background ensured that Elmer’s love for botany is successfully showcased in great detail. Many scenes were also filmed at the Convent of Santa Clara. Situated at Rúa Santa Clara, 16, 36002 Pontevedra, the 13th-century convent is now a part of the Pontevedra Museum. The human-made wonder has a 130,000-square-foot garden, a cloister, and an orchard, all of which were used to paint the show’s canvas and enhance the aesthetic.
The crew used the famous Herrería Square (Plaza de la Herrería), the main square of Pontevedra, for many scenes. Being the cultural heart of the province, it naturally makes sense to incorporate the location into the narrative, highlighting both of them in the process. Many outdoor scenes were also filmed around Soportales Street and the Principal Theater at Rúa Paio Gómez Charino, 6, 36002. The Canoeing School in Corbaceiras has been used to lens some outdoor scenes. The historic ruins of the Ulló salt mines, AKA the Salinas de Ulló, in Vilaboa, built during the reign of Philip IV, have also been captured for a handful of wide shots. The 8-km long Barrosa beach in San Vicente do Mar further helped the crew provide the show with versatile establishing shots.
Besides the city of Pontevedra, the crew captured various scenes in Vilagarcía de Arousa, Cambados, and Tomiño. In Vilagarcía de Arousa, north of Pontevedra, the team used a port for a handful of shots. In Cambados, it accessed the Santa Mariña Cemetery as the setting for many crucial scenes. Despite being known for its beauty, the cemetery is ironically addressed as “the most melancholic cemetery in the world,” thereby adding a melancholic layer to the narrative, which serves to fan the flames of Elmer’s inner conflict. In Tomiño, the 13th-century Pazo do Mosteiro, located at Mosterio, 14, 36740, with its vineyards and gardens, served as yet another exotic framework to uplift the show’s visual appeal.
A Coruña, Spain
‘The Gardener’ crew also filmed many scenes in Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia, utilizing the grand buildings as the setting for outdoor scenes. Some shots were also captured on the coastlines of Corrubedo, in Ribeira — the capital of Barbanza, a comarca in the province of A Coruña. The Corrubedo Dunes, part of the Corrubedo Natural Park, is one of Galicia’s most sought-after tourist spots. While the city of Pontevedra provides man-made backdrops, A Coruña offers the open landscapes created by nature. Various nearby parts of Ribeira were captured to be used as cityscapes as well.
Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Toledo, the capital de facto of Castilla-La Mancha, is another major location used for the production of ‘The Gardener.’ The picturesque city is replete with historical architecture that dates back to the 60th century BC. It also offers a lot of natural terrain among which the buildings have been built. This nature of Toledo becomes a symbol for the show, i.e., man amidst nature. The city is also home to various cultures, and the team used this quality to add more color and contrast to the show’s aesthetic. Galicia has served as the backdrop for many popular Spanish shows, including ‘Gangs of Galicia,’ ‘A Private Affair,’ and ‘Pazo de familiar,’ each show having used the locales to emphasize the distinct narratives.
Madrid, Spain
Madrid, the capital of Spain, was used to provide a contemporary vibe to the show. The city’s modern buildings, versatile environments, and tax benefits make it a go-to filming spot for productions all across the globe. This proved helpful for the filming unit, which shot many indoor and outdoor scenes across several sites within the city, garnishing the show with elegance and modernism.
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