Slovakia boosted by Marco Polo filming

Slovakia’s production industry has been given a boost hosting scenes for the second series of high-end Netflix drama Marco Polo.

By Nick Goundry 17 Nov 2015

Slovakia boosted by Marco Polo filming

Slovakia’s production industry has been given a boost hosting scenes for the second series of high-end Netflix drama Marco Polo.

The historical show is inspired by the adventures of the eponymous 13th century Italian traveller who spent nearly 25 years exploring Asia. Filming on the second series took place for almost a month on location in Slovakia in August and September.

Slovakia is at the end of the first year of a filming incentive that comprises a 20% cash rebate for shoots that spend at least €2m. The country doubled for Mongolia in the Marco Polo shoot and turned out to be more practical than first-series filming location Kazakhstan.

The challenge of remote filming locations was a major issue for the Marco Polo team in Kazakhstan. Hours of driving were needed every day in travel time and there was also the logistical problem of transporting all the elements associated with a period shoot.

Slovakia’s Tatra Mountains are effective doubles for Kazakhstan’s rugged landscape and the distances are much more manageable.

Production on Marco Polo has again been based at Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios for the second series, and was indeed the first major shoot to use the relatively new facility.

For more on filming in Slovakia, see our production guide.

Slovakia is at the end of the first year of a filming incentive that comprises a 20% cash rebate for shoots that spend at least €2m. The country doubled for Mongolia in the Marco Polo shoot and turned out to be more practical than first-series filming location Kazakhstan.

The challenge of remote filming locations was a major issue for the Marco Polo team in Kazakhstan. Hours of driving were needed every day in travel time and there was also the logistical problem of transporting all the elements associated with a period shoot.

Slovakia’s Tatra Mountains are effective doubles for Kazakhstan’s rugged landscape and the distances are much more manageable.

Production on Marco Polo has again been based at Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios for the second series, and was indeed the first major shoot to use the relatively new facility.

For more on filming in Slovakia, see our production guide.

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