If you are looking for a family day out with a difference, near Marbella? Visit the World's first Smurf Village. Located off the Ronda Road in a town called Júzcar, you can still take the chance to visit following a surprise pre-christmas vote.
In June 2011, Sony Pictures took the bold decision to paint the whole of this traditional 'pueblo blanco' of Júzcar, a vivid smurf blue as part of the launch campaign for The Smurfs 3D. The film was one of the surprise hits of the summer, despite mixed reviews, opening to $35.6 million and earning more than $75 million in its first 10 days; success in part attributed to this real 3D branding campaign.
The Smurfs or "Los Pitufos" in spanish, were given their new 'home' when Jùzcar was chosen to be the host location for the film's premiere. As part of the arrangement with the local residents, Sony promised to return the city to its traditional white once filming was completed at the end of 2011. The 175 buildings took a dozen painters and over 1,000 gallons (approx. 4,000 litres) of blue paint to be transformed into a phenomenal spectacular within the Malaga mountains. Even the church was transformed, and every detail was accounted for.
images and some article facts sourced from:- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/18/smurf-town-juzcar_n_879834.html#s294451
Now, in a pre-christmas referendum, the 221-strong population took a vote to decide the future of the town and a majority of 141 residents (64%) opted to keep the Smurf branding. The town will remain with its bright blue after enjoying a huge boost in tourism, ordinarily expecting less than 300 visitors during an average summertime , last year they received a staggering 80,000 visitors. This improved level of tourism (and resulting profits) will hopefully continue throughout 2012 bringing new sources of revenue to the local area and local businesses which can then be boosted again the following year in 2013, because we hear already that Sony's Smurfs 2 will be released on August 2, 2013.
For directions to visit from Marbella to Júzcar please see: http://g.co/maps/6u5wk
HAPPY NEW YEAR from PUDDING CREATIVE
images and some article facts sourced from:- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/18/smurf-town-juzcar_n_879834.html#s294451
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