Iconic arch seen in ‘Game of Thrones’ collapses

An iconic, natural arch featured in films and television series including “Clash of the Titans,” “The Odyssey,” and “Game of Thrones,” has collapsed.

Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced the arch’s collapse on Twitter onTuesday, saying “I have just been informed that the beautiful Tieqa tad-Dwerja in #Gozo has collapsed. Updates soon.”

Known as the Azure Window, the limestone arch stood on Malta’s Gozo island and served as a picture frame for photographers wanting to capture the sunset over the waters of the Mediterranean. It was “easily the most photographed vista of the islands,” according to visitmalta.com.

Steps had been taken by the government to preserve the arch, and visitors had been prohibited from climbing on the arch or swimming beneath it.

According to Muscat, however, the landmark was always expected to be “hard hit by unavoidable natural corrosion.”

“That sad day arrived,” Muscat tweeted.

He later tweeted a picture of the site without the arch, “#Dwejra #AzureWindow site today. Picture by @Armed_Forces_MT.”

Courtesy Northern Ireland Tourist Board

This avenue of 18th-century beech trees in Stranocum, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, was the setting for a classic scene in "Game of Thrones" season two, when Ayra Stark flees King's Landing disguised as a boy.

Courtesy Northern Ireland Tourist Board

Northern Ireland continues to be a key filming location for "Game of Thrones." Some of the action in season 5 takes place in the shadow of Binevenagh Mountain, County Londonderry.

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The rugged coastline of Strangford is a regular destination for GoT crews, doubling for Westeros. It's where much of the filming around the fictional Winterfell castle takes place.

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This beautiful woodland in Northern Ireland's County Down appears in the first ever episode of season one. It's also used for hunting scenes in other episodes.

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This windswept stretch of coastline appears in "Game of Thrones" as Dragonstone, a place of flaming ceremonies in honor of old gods.

Courtesy Northern Ireland Tourist Board

The caves at Cushendun make an appearance in GoT season two. It's where Melisandre gives birth to a disturbing shadow baby.

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This small Spanish town east of Seville hasn't been featured on any major tourist trails until recently. Series five uses its ancient bullring to portray the Arena of Meereen. Osuna's appearance is expected to bring unprecedented visitor numbers.

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The elegant gardens and hallways of the Moorish royal palace in the center of the Spanish city of Seville form another series five newcomer. It's thought the sprawling Real Alcazar will double as the Water Gardens of Dorne, the summer residence of House Martell.

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This 247-meter-long bridge built by Roman troops more than 2,000 years ago in Cordoba, Spain, makes an appearance in series five as the Long Bridge of Volantis.

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This natural limestone arch on the coast of the Maltese island of Gozo was used as the backdrop for the wedding between Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo in season one. Sadly, it collapsed into the sea following a storm in March 2017.

Courtesy Sky / HBO

Morocco has hosted extensive filming ahead of season five, with crews returning to previously used locations such Ouarzazate. In this scene from the third series Daenerys Targaryen is living in exile in the Free Cities.

Courtesy Boris Kacan

Like Northern Ireland, Croatia has proved a mainstay for "Game of Thrones" production crews. The Dalmatian Coast city provides locations for Quarth and King's Landing.

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Another GoT regular, Iceland has provided numerous backdrops. Vatnajökull glacier, in the country's southwest, stars as the uncharted land Beyond the Wall in Westeros.