Maps of Movies
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
Where Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
A galaxy far away was filmed in an Italian royal palace, a Tunisian desert and a studio near London
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Scenes and places
The blockade over Naboo
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan arrive as Republic envoys to negotiate with the Trade Federation Viceroy. The talks are a trap: the Viceroy is ordered to kill them and begin the invasion.
Set in Trade Federation blockade ships above Naboo — Trade Federation warships surround the planet while the Jedi envoys arrive to negotiate.
An invented space station and fleet in orbit; the Wikipedia article gives no filming location for it.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan meet Jar Jar in the Naboo forest
Fleeing the droid invasion, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan escape into Naboo's forest. There Qui-Gon rescues a clumsy Gungan outcast, Jar Jar Binks, who becomes their guide.
Set in Naboo forest — The Jedi flee into the planet's woodland and run into Jar Jar Binks.
A woodland park in Hertfordshire that stands in for a planet's forest.
Filmed at Cassiobury Park, Watford (Whippendell Wood) — The Naboo forest scenes were filmed in this park; the exact spot in the wood is not given. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: A public park in Watford, north-west of London; the nearest rail stations are Watford High Street and Watford Junction.
The underwater Gungan city
Jar Jar leads the Jedi to his people's city. Qui-Gon asks Boss Nass for help, is refused, and leaves with Jar Jar as a guide and a submarine called a bongo.
Set in Otoh Gunga, the Gungan city — An underwater city of the Gungans, led by Boss Nass.
A city on the bottom of Naboo's lakes; the underwater scenes have no Earth filming location in the sources.
The royal palace of Theed
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan reach Theed and rescue Queen Amidala from the captured palace. The group slips away aboard her royal starship, hoping to reach the Republic capital.
Set in Theed Royal Palace — The palace of the Naboo capital, where Queen Amidala is held and later rescued.
An 18th-century Bourbon royal palace in Campania, one of the largest palaces in Europe.
Filmed at Royal Palace of Caserta, Italy — Interiors of the Theed palace were filmed here, over four days after the palace had been closed to visitors. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Caserta is about 30 km north of Naples; the palace is next to Caserta railway station.
The market of Mos Espa
Qui-Gon, Padmé and Jar Jar go into Mos Espa to find a hyperdrive part. In Watto's shop they meet a boy named Anakin, and Qui-Gon senses something unusual in him.
Set in Mos Espa, Tatooine — A desert spaceport town on Tatooine with a market and Watto's junk shop.
A town built as a film set in Tunisia; the set was inspired by old Tunisian buildings.
Filmed at Mos Espa film set, near Tozeur, Tunisia — The Mos Espa set was built here in the Tunisian desert for the film. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Reached from Tozeur, about 25 km north-west of the town; the set is on the edge of the Ong Jmal rock formation.
Anakin's home and the slave quarters
Anakin takes Qui-Gon home. His mother, Shmi, and Anakin's world as a slave are shown, and Qui-Gon decides to ask for the boy's freedom.
Set in Anakin's home, Mos Espa — A slave quarter of Mos Espa where Anakin lives with his mother, Shmi.
A cluster of stone ksars in southern Tunisia stands in for the slave quarter.
Filmed at Ksar Ommarsia, Medenine, Tunisia — A real ksar (fortified granary village) used for the outside of Anakin's home. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Ksar Ommarsia is a few km from the town of Medenine in south-east Tunisia.
Filmed at Ksar Hadada, Ghomrassen, Tunisia — A second ksar used for the quarter's backstreets. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Ksar Hadada is near Ghomrassen, south-west of Medenine.
The Boonta Eve Podrace
Qui-Gon bets Anakin's freedom and the hyperdrive part on a Podrace. Anakin, a gifted pilot, races against the field to win.
Set in Boonta Eve Classic course, Mos Espa — A Podrace through canyons, with the grandstand in Mos Espa's arena.
A race course made of an arena set and desert canyons.
Filmed at Mos Espa arena structure, near Tozeur, Tunisia — The arena structures were built beside the Mos Espa set; the canyon scenes are linked to Mager Canyon (Sidi Bouhlel), whose coordinates are not given in the sources. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Same site as the Mos Espa set.
Darth Maul on Tatooine
On the way back to the ship, Qui-Gon is attacked by the Sith apprentice Darth Maul. After a brief duel, he escapes aboard the starship with the others.
Set in Desert outside Mos Espa — The rock formations on the way back to the ship.
A desert rock formation used for several Tatooine scenes.
Filmed at Ong Jmal, near Tozeur, Tunisia — The rock formation at the edge of the Mos Espa set is listed for the Tatooine desert scenes. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Same site as the Mos Espa set.
Coruscant, the Senate and the Jedi Council
Padmé pleads her people's case at the Senate. Qui-Gon asks the Jedi Council to let him train Anakin, and the Council refuses.
Set in Coruscant — A city-covered planet and capital of the Republic.
The sources name no Earth location; the Wikipedia article says the city's design was based on concept art and became the basis for the Senate.
The battle in Theed's hangar
Back on Naboo, Padmé leads a search through Theed for the Trade Federation Viceroy while a battle breaks out in the hangar.
Set in Theed hangar, Naboo — The royal hangar in Theed where the battle against the Trade Federation takes place.
A purpose-built studio set; the explosion shots were filmed on replicas.
Filmed at Leavesden Film Studios, Watford, England — Scenes with explosions were filmed on replica sets here. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Leavesden is in Hertfordshire, north-west of London; it now hosts a public studio tour.
Characters
- Qui-Gon Jinn — A Jedi Master sent to negotiate with the Trade Federation.
- Obi-Wan Kenobi — Qui-Gon's apprentice.
- Anakin Skywalker — A nine-year-old slave on Tatooine and a gifted pilot and engineer.
- Padmé Amidala — The young queen of Naboo, disguised as a handmaiden.
Questions answered on the map
- Which real palace is Theed in The Phantom Menace?
- Where is Mos Espa really?