A small city in southern Spain, Juzcar, was used as the film location for the The Smurfs film, and painted blue to fit the theme. Once shooting had wrapped up, Sony Pictures offered to repaint the place – except residents voted yesterday to keep the place Smurf-coloured.

I’m happy with that title.

Says the Independent:

“Ever since the pueblo was converted into the set of Smurftown for Sony’s hit, it has been cashing in on its new-found celebrity status. Previously, about 300 tourists a year would pass through Juzcar. In the past six months, an estimated 80,000 followers of “Los Pitufos”, as the Smurfs are known in Spanish, have made the trek to the remote village high in Malaga’s sierras.”

Los Pitufos is great, by the way. Juzcar has kept the theme running too, with a couple of Smurf-themed events – moonlight fun runs, Smurf painting competitions, and permanently-installed Smurf trade fairs. Also a Smurf wedding.

[Source: Independent]