The locations of Return to Las Sabinas, the soap opera broadcast on Rai 1

A new soap opera (actually produced in 2023) is ready to brighten up the afternoons of Rai 1. It is called Ritorno a Las Sabinas (original title Regreso a Las Sabinas ) and is a Spanish drama series created by Eulàlia Carrillo, which tells the story of the Molina sisters , Gracia (Celia Freijeiro) and Paloma (Olivia Molina), who return to their hometown, Manterana, to take care of their sick father. Gracia finds herself involved in a love triangle with Miguel (Andrés Velencoso), her first love, while Paloma clashes with a powerful landowner linked to her father by a dark secret.

Their return, therefore, rekindles old passions and reveals family secrets that threaten to upset their lives. But beyond the plot, the locations are also striking: it is set in the fictional town of Manterana , but the filming took place in magnificent (and existing) Catalan towns, in Spain.

Bigues and Riells

Bigues i Riells , in Vallès Oriental in Spain, is a picturesque village that served as the backdrop for many crucial scenes in Return to Las Sabinas. Its characteristics, in fact, proved to be the ideal setting to represent the family estate “Las Sabinas” and the adventures of the Molina sisters.

The village is located at the foot of the Cingles de Bertí (an imposing mountain formation) and at the entrance to the Tenes Valley, offering breathtaking landscapes, suggestive waterfalls and well-preserved historical buildings. Very interesting, for example, is the monastery of Sant Miquel del Fai, one of the most emblematic places in the area also because it is located in a deep natural cavity.

Many of the clips recorded at Riells del Fai bring to the screen:

• Can Camp : traditional farmhouse used as the main location for the residence of the Molina sisters, hence their home;
• Sant Miquel del Fai : it offered suggestive settings for several sequences, including the Rossinyol waterfall and the Romanesque bridge over the Tenes river.

Saint Andreu of Llavaneres

A short distance from Barcelona lies Sant Andreu de Llavaneres , a pretty coastal town characterised by an abundance of luxury villas, but also by an interesting tourist port (El Balís) and pleasant beaches, such as Platja de les Barques and Platja de l'Estació.

We are therefore talking about a location that certainly stands out for its intrinsic natural beauty, but also for its exclusive atmosphere. Two qualities that made it the perfect choice for the external shots of Return to Las Sabinas .

In particular, Sant Andreu de Llavaneres is home to the “luxury estate” of the Spanish sisters, around which many of the conflicts and emotional dynamics of the series revolve. This city, in fact, has optimal settings for a narrative made mainly of family intrigues and hidden secrets. It is no coincidence that many of the tensions and clashes take place inside or around the estate, making it crucial for the development of the plot.

Saint Vincent de Montalt

Sant Vicenç de Montalt is also a beautiful coastal town that comes to life a few kilometers from Barcelona. A location that was chosen for its landscape and architectural features, which were perfectly suited to the setting of the fiction. Sant Vicenç de Montalt in fact has a privileged position between the sea and the mountains, but also notable historical buildings such as the Gothic church of Sant Vicenç and several masías from the 16th century.

It will come as no surprise to learn, therefore, that this very reality of Catalonia was used to represent the fictional town of Manterana, where many of the events of the plot take place. Its quiet streets, natural landscapes and historic architecture have visually enriched the series, underlining the contrast between rural life and the complex family dynamics that are at the heart of the narrative.