20110408-20110413 Spain : Location Hunt - Sora no Woto

Sora no Woto Sora no Woto is a TV anime series aired in 1Q 2010, having 12+2 episodes. The +2 episodes are episode 7.5 & 13. Sora no Woto literally means sound of the sky, and the story is about a young girl named Sorami Kanata who is inspired to join the military after witnessing a rendition of "Amazing Grace" by a mysterious trumpeter of the Helvetian Army. Kanata became a bugler and is assigned to the 1121st Platoon stationed in the town of Seize, Helvetia. Seize is based on the real locations in Cuenca and Alarcon in Spain. This location hunt session covered both Cuenca and Alarcon, with the exceptions of those inverted cone shaped rock formations in episode 5 which are located several km north of Cuenca and is very hard to reach.
Cuenca Cuenca is a city in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha in central Spain. It is the capital of the province of Cuenca. High speed train AVE services between Madrid and Cuenca were started in Dec 2010. The journey now only need 1 hour, compare with previously 3 hours using regional train. All of the Sora no Woto locations in Cuenca are located at the old city part of Cuenca. The old city is located on a small hill at the north east of the city. The old city, as known as Historic Walled Town of Cuenca, is listed as one of the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1996. We will look at the locations in the old city from north to south (that is, top to bottom) and east to west. Please note that these photos are taken from 2 separate days of shooting, so you might notice the direction of lights are different in photos showing the same place. The model of 1121st Platoon station (as known as Time Telling Fortress) is Parador de Cuenca, a 4-star national hotel restored from the old Saint Paul Convent.
View of the Parador from the top of the hill	[ED] Kanata playing her trumpet with the Shuko the owl on her head, while the rest of the platoon laughing	[EP01+] Kanata heard the sound of the bell stole by Shuko the owl from outside the castle wall
[EP01] Kanata pondering what to do after taking the bath at the glass shop	[EP01] Kanata pondering what to do after taking the bath at the glass shop	[EP01] Kanata pondering what to do after taking the bath at the glass shop
[EP01] Kanata heard the sound of the bell stole by Shuko the owl	The church of St. Peter	Carmelite Convent at the north side of the old city. It is now converted to a museum
[EP04] Noel and Kanata drove down the alley to go shopping. To the left is ex-Carmelite Convent (now a museum), and to the right is the church of St. Peter	[EP04] Noel and Kanata drove down the alley to go shopping	[EP01] Kanata walked around the town aimlessly, enjoying the water festival
[EP01] Kanata walked around the town aimlessly, enjoying the water festival	View of the Parador (east) from the opening behind Carmelite Convent. You can see left middle block is "hanging" (with nothing below). I stayed 2 nights there in the lower middle room(window)	From the opening behind Carmelite Convent looking at the unique stone formations in the north
[EP11] People are shoveling snow from the road	[EP11] People are shoveling snow from the road	[EP10] Kanata & RIO walked pass the arch doorway
[EP10] Kanata & RIO walked pass the arch doorway	[EP10] Kanata & RIO walked pass the arch doorway and went down the stairs towards the stone platform	[EP01] Rio performed her fire maiden routine here [EP10] Kanata & Rio walked pass the stone platform
[EP01] Rio performed her fire maiden routine here	[EP01] Rio performed her fire maiden routine here	[EP01] Rio performed her fire maiden routine here
[EP10] Kanata & RIO talked here, just north of the stone platform	[EP10] Kanata & RIO talked here, just north of the stone platform	Looking north towards the stone platform and beyond
[EP07] Filicia bought something from the wooden cart here while bumping into Rio	[EP07] Filicia bought something from the wooden cart here while bumping into Rio	[EP07] Filicia bought something from the wooden cart here while bumping into Rio
[EP07] Filicia bought something from the wooden cart here while bumping into Rio	[EP01] Shot showing people drinking in front of the wooden door	[EP01] Shot showing an old lady and a young girl sitting in front of the wooden door
[EP01] Shot showing a couple standing in front of the arch doorway with a building in the background	[EP01] Shot showing a couple standing in front of the arch doorway with a building in the background	Walking down hill in the east part of the old city
[EP07] Shot showing this short tunnel. This short tunnel is located near the Cristo Del Pasadizo	[EP07] Shot showing this short tunnel.	[EP07] Shot showing the building next to the short tunnel.
[EP07] Shot showing someone drinking while sitting on the steps. This building is located near the Cristo Del Pasadizo	The entrance of the Cristo Del Pasadizo	[EP01] Shot showing the candle stand near the fire maiden statue. Real : candle stand near the Cristo Del Pasadizo
[EP01] Shot showing the candle stand near the fire maiden statue. Real : candle stand near the Cristo Del Pasadizo	[EP10] Kanata & Rio walked pass here. Real : looking back at the entrance of the Cristo Del Pasadizo	[EP01/EP10] The fire maiden statue. Real : Cristo Del Pasadizo, the statue is Jesus Christ, not a fire maiden
[EP01/EP10] The fire maiden statue. Real : Cristo Del Pasadizo, the statue is Jesus Christ, not a fire maiden	[EP01/EP10] The fire maiden statue. Real : Cristo Del Pasadizo, the statue is Jesus Christ, not a fire maiden	[ED] Kanata nearly falling down the stone rail with Noel trying to hold onto her, with Rio watching from the left. The arch doorway in the background is the exit of Cristo Del Pasadizo
Looking at the Parador at where Kanata nearly falling down the stone rail	[ED] Rio, Noel & Filicia walking up the dark alley while Kureha falling behind	Cuenca Cathedral at the Plaza Mayor (Town Plaza). 360 degree view of Plaza Mayor, clockwise starting from the cathedral (1 of 10)
[Various] The town plaza appeared many times through out the series. E.g. Water festival in EP01, morning markets in other episodes. 360 degree view of Plaza Mayor, clockwise starting from the cathedral (2 of 10)	[Various] Plaza Mayor. 360 degree view of Plaza Mayor, clockwise starting from the cathedral (3 of 10)	[Various] Plaza Mayor. 360 degree view of Plaza Mayor, clockwise starting from the cathedral (4 of 10)
[Various] Plaza Mayor. The building in the middle is the town hall. 360 degree view of Plaza Mayor, clockwise starting from the cathedral (5 of 10)	[Various] Plaza Mayor. 360 degree view of Plaza Mayor, clockwise starting from the cathedral (6 of 10)	[Various] Plaza Mayor. 360 degree view of Plaza Mayor, clockwise starting from the cathedral (7 of 10)
[Various] Plaza Mayor. 360 degree view of Plaza Mayor, clockwise starting from the cathedral (8 of 10)	[Various] Plaza Mayor. 360 degree view of Plaza Mayor, clockwise starting from the cathedral (9 of 10)	[Various] Plaza Mayor. 360 degree view of Plaza Mayor, clockwise starting from the cathedral (10 of 10)
[EP13] Kanata driving very slowly in front of this door, while people walking faster than her car	[EP01] Kanata sitting down near the water fountain playing with a cat	[EP01] Kanata sitting down near the water fountain playing with a cat
[EP01] Shot showing a girl standing beside the arch doorway watching other people	[EP06] Kanata sat down with Sister Yumina on the stairs beside Plaza Mayor having a chat	[EP06] Kanata sat down with Sister Yumina on the stairs beside Plaza Mayor having a chat
[EP01] Shot showing the railing beside Plaza Mayor	The slope just west of Plaza Mayor	[EP10] Kanata & Rio walked down the long dark stairs just west of Plaza Mayor
[ED] Kanata & Rio standing at the flat stairs just west of the long dark stairs	[ED] Kanata & Rio standing at the flat stairs just west of the long dark stairs	[EP10] Kanata & Rio walked pass here
[EP10] Kanata & Rio walked pass here	[EP06] Kanata walked pass here during her first paid rest day	[EP06] Kanata walked pass here during her first paid rest day
[EP05] Kureha running out of the middle passage holding a bottle. The building is the famous Casas Colgadas (The Hanging House) just east of Plaza Mayor. The right door is the Museum of Abstract Arts, while the left door is a restaurant	[EP10] Kanata & Rio walked down the slope beside Casas Colgadas	[EP01] Kanata walked down the slope during the water festival
Looking east from the slope just outside the museum. The museum is at the left side of this photo	[EP05] Major Claus worked on his bike	[EP03] Kanata talked with Rio
[EP05] Kureha talked with Major Claus	[EP03] Kanata talked with Rio [EP06] Filicia, Rio, Kureha & Noel supervising the loading of their secret products onto the truck	[EP05] Major Claus worked on his bike
[EP03] Kanata talked with Rio in the army car park. Real : car park next to Casas Colgadas	[EP04] Shot showing the name plate of a souvenir shop. Real : name plate of a souvenir shop with the same name, but with slightly different description	[EP03] Kanata talked with Rio in the army car park near the railings. The angle of the shot in the anime is about 6 meters higher than this angle, which is impossible to recreate unless one can fly
Stone platform south of Casas Colgadas	Stone platform south of Casas Colgadas	Looking north east at the Parador & St Paul Bridge from the second floor restaurant in the Casas Colgadas building
Back alley of the Casas Colgadas	[Various] Looking at the Parador and St Paul Bridge from Casas Colgadas	[Various] Looking at the Parador and St Paul Bridge from Casas Colgadas
[EP11] Army cars are lining up along the road near the west end of St Paul Bridge	[EP01] Shot showing some people drinking during the water festival. This is near the back side of Casas Colgadas	[EP12] The people of Seize let the army knows their objection to their action
[Various/end-cut] Casas Colgadas (The Hanging House)	[Various/end-cut] Casas Colgadas (The Hanging House)	[Various/end-cut] Casas Colgadas (The Hanging House)
[EP12] Army troops standing at the west end of the St Paul Bridge	[EP12] Army troops standing at the west end of the St Paul Bridge	St Paul Bridge
Looking east side from the west end of the bridge. The Parador is at the left	Looking at the west side from the middle of the bridge	Looking at the Parador from the middle of the bridge
Looking at the rock formations to the right of the Parador from the middle of the bridge. Someone is doing rock climbing	Looking at the Parador from the middle of the bridge	Looking at the Casas Colgadas from the middle of the bridge
[Various] Looking at the main town side (west) of the bridge from the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Looking at the main town side (west) of the bridge from the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Looking at the main town side (from south to north, 1 of 4)
[Various] Looking at the main town side (from south to north, 2 of 4)	[Various] Looking at the main town side (from south to north, 3 of 4)	[Various] Looking at the main town side (from south to north, 4 of 4)
[Various]Looking at the west part of Time Telling Fortress from the main town side	The shield on the St Paul Bridge	[Various]Looking at the west part of Time Telling Fortress from the main town side
[Various] The girls usually waits for people at the east end of the St Paul Bridge	[Various] The girls usually waits for people at the east end of the St Paul Bridge	[Various] The girls usually waits for people at the east end of the St Paul Bridge
[Various] Looking at the main town side (west) of the bridge from the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Looking at the main town side (west) of the bridge from the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Looking at the main town side (west) of the bridge from the Time Telling Fortress
[Various] Looking at the main town side (west) of the bridge from the Time Telling Fortress	The entrance of the Parador	[Various] The ex-church part of the Time Telling Fortress
[Various] The ex-church part of the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Plaza in front of the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Plaza in front of the Time Telling Fortress
[EP02] Kureha training Kanata in the front entrance of the Time Telling Fortress	[EP08] Sister Yumina at the front entrance of the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] The door to the cellar is located between the fortress building and the stairs. Real : the door to the cellar does not exist
[Various] Looking out from the door to the cellar	[EP7.5] Filicia, Rio & Kureha re-grouped after evading Noel's chain gun in the survival game	Looking back the plaza in front of the fortress from the stairs
[Various] Inside corridors of the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Inside corridors of the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Inside corridors of the Time Telling Fortress
[Various] Inside corridors of the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Inside corridors of the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Inside corridors of the Time Telling Fortress
[Various] Inside corridors of the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Inside corridors of the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Patio (Courtyard) of the Time Telling Fortress
[Various] Patio of the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Patio of the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Patio of the Time Telling Fortress
[Various] Patio of the Time Telling Fortress	[Various] Patio of the Time Telling Fortress	[EP01] Folk dancing during water festival. This is part of Alfonso VIII Street (left) leading down hill from Plaza Mayor
[EP04] Kanata & Noel went to buy supplies	[Various] Kanata and/or Rio doing their day begin time signal trumpet on the clock tower. Real : Mangana Tower is not located inside the Parador, but at another location midway down hill from the old town	[Various] Kanata and/or Rio doing their day begin time signal trumpet on the clock tower
[Various] Kanata and/or Rio doing their day begin time signal trumpet on the clock tower	[EP01] The first things Kanata saw after going through the front gate of the town, with lots of stalls lining up the street for the water festival. This is part of Alfonso VIII Street (left) leading down hill from Plaza Mayor	[EP04] Kanata & Noel walked pass the arch doorway during their trip to buy supplies [EP07] Rio walked pass this arch doorway before bumping into Filicia buying things from the wooden stall
[EP07] Shot showing this side street leading down hill [EP13] Kanata drove her car down this stairs with Yumina sitting terrified beside her	[EP13] Kanata drove her car down this stairs with Yumina sitting terrified beside her
Alarcon Alarcon is a small town around 70 km south of Cuenca. The population is 182, and there is no public transport in Alarcon.
Parador (national hotel), restored from the main tower of Castle of Alarcon	Water fountain outside the Parador	Water fountain outside the Parador
[ED] Kanata ran towards the stairs from the town plaza	Church	City Hall
The main plaza where the church and city hall located	Castle of Alarcon	Back side of the Castle of Alarcon
[EP01] Kanata got off the passenger car of Major Claus' bike here. Real : front gate of Alarcon	[Various] Far view of Castle of Seize seen in various episodes	[Various] Far view of Castle of Seize seen in various episodes
[EP13] Kanata drove here to search for Rio	[EP13] Kanata drove here to search for Rio	[EP13] Kanata drove here to search for Rio. In the background is the Del Campo Tower
Front gate of Alarcon with the castle in the back	[ED] Kanata & Rio walked on the stone wall while Kureha standing below. This is the stone wall surrounding Del Campo Tower, with Castle of Alarcon in the background	[EP13] Kanata talked with Rio on her dream at the stone wall
[EP13] Kanata talked with Rio on her dream at the stone wall	From the stone wall surrounding Del Campo Tower looking back at the Castle of Alarcon and the river/dam/old house/bridge	From the stone wall surrounding Del Campo Tower looking back at the river/dam/old house/bridge
From the stone wall surrounding Del Campo Tower looking back at the Castle of Alarcon	[EP13] Kanata, standing on the top step of the stairs, found Rio sitting on the stone just below her	[EP13] Kanata, standing on the top step of the stairs, found Rio sitting on the stone just below her
[EP13] Still shot showing the window of the tower from the top step of the stairs	[EP13] Still shot showing the stone wall surrounding Del Campo Tower from the top step of the stairs	[EP13] Kanata walked pass here while searching for Rio
[EP13] Still shot showing the rectangular remains of something near the tower	[EP13] Kanata stare at the Del Campo Tower while searching for Rio	[EP13] Kanata searching for Rio
[EP13] Kanata parked her car outside the stone wall and walked inside searching for Rio	[EP13] Still shot showing the Del Campo Tower and its stone wall	[EP13] Kanata parked her car outside the stone wall of Del Campo Tower
Del Campo Tower with the Parador in the background	[ED] Kureha, Rio, Filicia & Noel standing on the bridge while Kanata standing below them beside the arch of the bridge	[ED] Kureha tackled Rio on the bridge with Filicia watching from behind
[EP01] 2 stone columns outside the broken house near the river, with the young Kanata sat inside the house and witness a rendition of "Amazing Grace" by a mysterious trumpeter of the Helvetian Army	[EP01] Shot showing the inside of the broken house	[EP01] The young Kanata sitting inside the broken house
[EP01] Kanata saw the mysterious trumpeter standing outside near the 2 stone columns	[EP01] Kanata saw the mysterious trumpeter standing outside near the 2 stone columns	[EP01] Shot showing the roof of the broken house
[EP01] Shot showing the roof of the broken house	[EP01] Shot showing the roof of the broken house	The broken house is located beside the river/dam/bridge as seen from Del Campo Tower. This is the only entrance of the old house as the road/stairs to the main entrance was destroyed
[EP01] Shot showing the owl standing on the rock near the dam. In real, there is no water flowing from the dam (dry season ?). Del Campo Tower can be seen in the background	Looking at the nearby Alarconcillo Tower from the bridge	Looking up at the Castle of Alarcon and Parador from the bridge
[EP13] Shot showing the back side of the Alarcon Castle from the bridge