While the 2026 action film Shelter, starring Jason Statham, is primarily set against the rugged, windswept coastlines of County Wicklow, Ireland, its narrative journey takes a breathtaking detour to the sun-drenched cliffs of Ronda, Spain.
The film uses Ronda’s dramatic geography to create a sharp visual contrast to the “Hollywood of Europe” (Wicklow). If you were captivated by the sweeping shots of ancient stone bridges and dizzying gorges in Shelter, here is a closer look at the real-world locations that brought those scenes to life.
The Bridge on the Edge of the World: Puente Nuevo
The most recognizable landmark featured in Shelter is the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge). Spanning the 120-meter deep El Tajo gorge, this 18th-century marvel connects the old Moorish town with the newer El Mercadillo district.
In the film, the bridge serves as a stunning backdrop for a pivotal meeting. Directors utilized the sheer verticality of the limestone cliffs to emphasize the isolation and danger surrounding the characters. For visitors, the bridge offers a small museum hidden inside the central arch—a space that once served as a prison and now provides a unique vantage point of the Guadalevín River below.
The Shadows of the Bullring: Plaza de Toros
Ronda is widely considered the birthplace of modern Spanish bullfighting, and its Plaza de Toros is one of the oldest and most beautiful in Spain. Shelter captures the arena’s neoclassical elegance, using its circular architecture to create a sense of being trapped—a recurring theme in the movie. Built in 1785, the ring is constructed entirely of stone and features unique double-tiered seating supported by 136 Tuscan columns.
Hidden Retreats: Cueva del Gato
While the film’s “shelter” itself was a purpose-built set on an Irish beach, the scenes involving a remote, natural hideaway in the mountains were filmed near the Cueva del Gato (Cat’s Cave) just outside Ronda. This natural monument features a crystal-clear turquoise pool at the mouth of a cave shaped like a cat’s head. It provides a lush, Mediterranean contrast to the darker, more claustrophobic forest scenes filmed in Ireland’s Sally Gap.
Stepping into History: La Ciudad
The narrow, winding streets of La Ciudad (the old town) provided the film with an authentic, timeless atmosphere. Key locations include:
- Plaza Duquesa de Parcent: A lush square home to the Church of Santa Maria la Mayor, which appears in the background of several chase sequences.
- The Arab Baths (Baños Árabes): These 13th-century ruins are among the best-preserved in Spain. Their star-shaped vents in the ceiling create a cinematic play of light that the Shelter cinematography team used to great effect for more intimate, shadowy dialogues.
Why Ronda?
Ronda has a long history of attracting filmmakers and writers—from Orson Welles and Ernest Hemingway to modern crews for Game of Thrones and the upcoming Seven Dials series. Its appeal lies in its “edge-of-the-world” aesthetic. In Shelter, Ronda represents a moment of clarity and beauty amidst the chaos of the plot, proving that even a high-octane action film can find a home in one of the most romantic cities in the world.
Travel Tip: If the film inspired you to visit, Ronda is easily accessible via a 90-minute drive or a scenic 2-hour train ride from Malaga. Be sure to walk the Camino de los Arrieros at sunset for the exact “movie-poster” view of the bridge illuminated against the Andalusian sky.