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10 Maltese locations & references made in Queen of the South
Super cool!

Jillian Mallia

Queen of the South is an American drama series centred around the drug cartels in Mexico. While living in Jalisco, poor Teresa Mendoza falls in love with a successful drug cartel member hoping to help her rise above her misfortunes. But after her boyfriend is killed, she is forced to flee the country and becomes a drug mule after seeking refuge in the States. Eventually, after much trials, tribulations, heartbreak and a lot of gunfire, she ends up starting her own drug empire.

Queen of the South / Facebook

Queen of the South / Facebook

Season 3, which mentions and was shot in Malta, “picks up in a moment that Teresa’s just trying to take care of her own life and follow her own path without anyone dictating how she should do it,” actress Alice Braga (who stars as Teresa Mendoza) reveals.

“We shot in Malta - which was beautiful. They were talking about choosing specific countries in Europe and then Malta came up. It’s such an interesting story because it’s an island that has been invaded by many different countries.” Here are 10 references and filming locations in Malta as featured in Queen of the South.

1. Fort St Elmo

Fort St Elmo is shown a few minutes into the premiere episode of season 3, and is where Teresa is seen planning her next move to bring her product to Malta.

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Screenshot via Netflix

2. A local market

Maltese people are heard bustling in the market, selling their products as Teresa walks through.

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Screenshot via Netflix

3. X’gara sabiha, x’inqala?

It’s so surreal hearing your native language on a well-known international TV series. This Maltese man is featured asking, “what’s wrong dear” in Maltese as Teresa is fleeing a chaser.

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Screenshot via Netflix

4. Port of Valletta

A minor shoot out went down at the Port of Valletta between two local cops and Teresa and her crew. One police officer named Daniela Spiteri lived, while the other wasn’t so lucky, and Daniela ends up becoming an inside operative for the Mendoza empire.

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Screenshot via Netflix

5. Fortune teller

Bringing a bit of Mexico to Malta, a fortune teller was featured in one of the episodes, who entices Teresa to pick a card in Maltese. While it’s not a traditional Maltese custom, there’s a beautiful background of the Harbour here.

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Screenshot via Netflix

6. Explosion

It wouldn't be a Queen of the South episode without some kind of gunfire or explosion going on. And this time, one took place at a cafe near what looks like Fort St Elmo. #Boom.

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Screenshot via Netflix

7. Car chase in Senglea

Teresa being involved in a car chase up one of the most prominent streets in the southern town of Senglea was probably one of the coolest things in that episode.

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Screenshot via Netflix

8. Map of the harbours

Planning to save human trafficked girls and to escape Malta with their cash and drugs, Teresa and her crew look at all the angles, featuring this shot of a map of the Grand Harbour and the Marsamxetto Harbour.

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Screenshot via Netflix

9. Police cars

Local police cars are featured a number of times in the beginning of season 3, with some popos even becoming allies.

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Screenshot via Netflix

10. The MCC

The Mediterranean Conference Centre (Sacra Infermeria) in Valletta doubled up as the ‘Bank Internazzjonali ta’ Malta’ where Teresa and her crew are trying to get their money back from a fictional leader in Malta, which turns into a bank robbery. #Obvs

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Screenshot via Netflix

25th May 2021


Jillian Mallia
Written by
Jillian Mallia
A book lover, writer and globetrotter who loves exploring new places and the local gems that the Maltese Islands have to offer. An avid foodie and arts fanatic, Jillian searches the island and beyond for the perfect settings to write about.

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