You don’t have to fly to Arizona to feel like you’re exploring the Wild West. Sometimes, geology has its own quirks and places landscapes in the middle of the Peninsula that seem to have been imported directly from the other side of the Atlantic.
That is exactly what happens with the Rambla de Barrachina, a spectacular ravine of reddish clay that for a long time served as a quiet refuge for the area’s residents and which, overnight, has become one of the most sought-after locations for film and advertising in the entire country.
What the local residents used to frequent as a regular place for a stroll, the outside world has christened the “Spanish Colorado.” And with good reason: the iron oxide that permeates the canyon walls tints them with an intense, magnetic red that shifts in hue depending on the position of the sun.
The landscape, moreover, is in a state of constant transformation: every time the rains intensify, the water carves new crevices into the soft clay and reshapes the terrain, as if it were a living sculpture whose creative process is never complete.
A rave with a thousand people and an Oscar nomination
The person responsible for propelling this Teruel landscape into the media spotlight has a name: Oliver Laxe. His latest film, Sirat, selected as Spain’s Oscar nominee following its remarkable reception at the Cannes Film Festival, did not merely use the Rambla de Barrachina as a backdrop.
The director made it an essential narrative element of the story. To recreate a rave in the middle of the desert with total authenticity, the production team ruled out digital effects and organized a real party in the ravine with over a thousand people, music blaring at full volume, and sound bouncing off the clay walls as if the canyon itself were a natural speaker.
Johnny Depp, Dior, and a puma among the ravines of Teruel
While Laxe’s film put the ravine on the map, the definitive touch of distinction came courtesy of Johnny Depp. The actor traveled to the province of Teruel to star in the new Dior ad, a big-budget production that mobilized more than a hundred professionals on the ground and transformed the ravine into a luxurious setting.
The most striking detail of the shoot wasn’t seeing the star of Pirates of the Caribbean among the Aragonese ravines, but the presence of a real puma that completed the wild and primitive aesthetic the fashion brand was seeking for its new fragrance.
How to visit the “Spanish Colorado”
Those who wish to follow in the footsteps of the stars and experience the site firsthand should keep a few practical tips in mind. The most common route starts in the vicinity of Villaspesa and follows a circular path of approximately 12 kilometers, allowing hikers to ascend to the Muela de Teruel to enjoy the best panoramic views of the entire area.
From Valencia, you can get there in less than 2 hours by car via the A-23 highway toward Teruel.
That said, the locals warn: there is no shade on the Rambla. It’s best to bring plenty of water and avoid the middle of the day at all costs. The sun beating down on this Aragonese canyon makes no distinctions, and that goes for weekend visitors as much as it does for Hollywood stars.
