It has been a tradition to base Pokemon regions on real-world locations ever since the very first generation of games - their region, Kanto, even shared a name with the part of Japan that inspired it. Since then, players have traversed the tropical islands of Hawaii in Pokemon Sun and Moon, gotten lost in the streets of New York in Pokemon Black and White, and donned Parisian high fashion in Pokemon X and Y. Scarlet and Violet continue this tradition with a number of Spanish influences featured in the game, ranging from tasty picnic sandwiches to a bullfighting-inspired regional variant of Tauros. As players explore Paldea, they will climb mountains, cross rivers, and plunge deep into caves paying tribute to the natural beauty of the Iberian Peninsula.
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Glaseado Mountain - The Pyrenees
Glaseado Mountain, the highest peak in Paldea, is home to two of the region’s most difficult Gym challenges: the Ice-type Gym Leader Grusha and the Ghost-type Gym Leader Ryme. Players must scale this tall mountain atop their legendary mount, Koraidon or Miraidon, in order to reach either of these remote gyms and catch the variety of Ice-type Pokemon inhabiting the area. The view from the top of Glaseado Mountain is considered one of Paldea’s most famous sights - and it’s a perfect spot to launch Koraidon or Miraidon once they’ve unlocked their Glide ability.
The peak of Glaseado and the surrounding mountains draw inspiration from the Pyrenees, a mountain range located on the border between France and Spain. In particular, Glaseado is likely inspired by Aneto, the tallest peak in the Pyrenees, which stands at a height of 11,168 feet (3,404 meters) at its peak. The real-world peak of Aneto would also be a perfect place to Glide with Koraidon or Miraidon. The sheer size of the mountain range in Paldea also evokes the Pyrenees, which stretch across nearly 310 miles (500 kilometers). Like Glaseado, the Pyrenees are also a popular location for winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding.
Caves & Grottoes - Caves of Nerja
The Paldea region is dotted with a number of cave systems, ranging from individual grottoes to the large network of tunnels near Alfornada Town in the South Province. These caves are home to several types of Pokemon that cannot be found anywhere else in the region, including a number of Rock- and Ground-types as well as Dark- and Ghost-type Pokemon that prefer to lurk in the shadows. One cave, the Inlet Grotto, even serves as the location for the player’s first meeting with Koraidon or Miraidon, the legendary Pokemon that eventually becomes their mount.
Like Paldea, Spain is known for its caves. In particular, the Caves of Nerja in the Province of Malaga are one of the country’s major tourist attractions. The Caves of Nerja are approximately 3 miles (5 kilometers) long and are believed to have once been inhabited by humans, as both skeletons and cave paintings have been found in the area. Rare and extinct animals such as the cave hyena are also believed to have made the Caves of Nerja their home. Today, the cave’s largest gallery is sometimes used as an amphitheater for concerts - this massive, echoing venue would be the perfect place for Ryme, Paldea’s rap-loving Ghost-type Gym Leader, to put on one of her epic performances.
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Cortondo’s Olive Groves - Andalusia
The rolling fields of Paldea’s southern and western provinces are home to enormous olive groves, listed as another of the region’s Ten Sights. Olives are harvested in Paldea and used as sandwich ingredients as well as being pressed and made into oil. The town of Cortondo, home to Bug-type Gym Leader Katy, is particularly known for its olive production, with players having to participate in the “Olive Roll” challenge before earning the right to challenge Katy to a battle. An olive-themed Pokemon, Smoliv, can also be caught in the area surrounding Cortondo and its olive groves.
Real-life Spain is also known for its olive production. In particular, many olives are grown in Andalusia, a region in the southern part of Spain. Andalusia currently produces over 250 varieties of olive, including both green olives - the kind that inspired Smoliv and its evolutions - and black olives. Olives can be sold whole or pitted or pressed into olive oil. Pitted olives are typically stuffed, usually with pimento. A number of towns and cities across Spain host annual olive or olive oil-themed festivals, which likely served as the inspiration for Cortondo’s “Olive Roll” Gym challenge.
Although olives are by far Andalusia’s best-known and most popular crop, they are not the only agricultural highlight of the area referenced in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. The Andalusia region is also known for growing sunflowers, which are referenced in the Paldean town of Artazon, home to the Grass-type Gym leader Brassius. Brassius is an artist, and his most famous sculpture, “Surrendering Sunflora,” features the sunflower-inspired Pokemon Sunflora expressing a variety of sad and somber moods. In addition, the Gym Test for Artazon involves finding ten Sunflora hidden around the town and herding them back to their pasture.
As players explore Paldea and progress further in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s three storylines, they can experience many of the natural wonders of Spain. In addition, they can visit more urban landmarks such as Levincia’s skyscrapers - inspired by the Four Towers in Madrid - or the stunning spires of Naranja and Uva Academy, which bring to mind the cathedral La Sagrada Familia. Paldea is a rich, vibrant region, well-suited for Pokemon’s first true open-world game, and the developer’s decision to lean into the natural beauty of the Iberian Peninsula was definitely the right one.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are currently available for the Nintendo Switch.
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