Greece – Top 5 Movies to See
Kristina, Head of West Department, is in love with Greece. She’s got it under her skin, so to say. Here’s her selection of movies that will inspire you to visit Greece.
Maybe we should name this news TOP 10. There are so many famous movies shot in Greece it’s difficult to choose. Many were featured in the movies thanks to its rich history, and even more thanks to its beautiful scenery. Even though Spartan movie 300 with Gerard Butler, Troy with Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom, and Zorba, the Greek with Anthony Quinn stand out, we will here focus on movies related to certain Greek destinations. All destinations depicted in these movies are well-known tourist destinations and can be reached by coach, ferry or a plane from Athens. Here are our top picks:
Mamma Mia! The MovieProbably one of the most successful movies shot in Greece, this modern musical based on ABBA songs is silly fun against a backdrop of Skiathos & Skopelos islands. While Skiathos is considered a high-end tourism island, Skopelos on the other hand is very peaceful. The combination of the scenery and music makes you long for Greece. Mamma Mia has probably inspired more trips to Greece than any other film shot here, and its legions of fans continue to grow with each showing. Even though the plot remains ‘Greek’, bear in mind that the sequel was filmed in 2017 on Vis island, Croatia.
Starring Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz, this action-romance story depicts Cephalonia island during World War II. Theoretically, a war story should not scare soft souls since this is more a romantic drama in a scenic environment. The movie takes place on the beautiful island of Kefalonia and you can visit many of the places where they filmed (like beach Antisamos and Sami). Locals will tell you many stories on the making of the film which by now has turned into Greek island folklore and will probably be passed down from one generation to the other. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin prompted a tourist deluge for the island.
Shirley is a middle-aged Liverpool housewife, who starts wondering what happened to her life. She compares scenes in her current life with what she used to be like and feels she has stagnated. But when her best friend wins an all-expenses-paid vacation to Greece for two, Shirley begins to see the world, and herself, in a different light. She finds romantic adventure – and her own soul – on the island of Mykonos. Locals still call beach Agios Ioannis the “Shirley Valentine” beach. Mykonos is an upscale Greek island only few hours from Athens. It attracts celebrities from all over the world, which makes it less accessible for general public. Booking in advance is a must.
Even though it is not considered as the best of the James Bond movies, For Your Eyes Only with Roger Moore, was filmed in one of the most spectacular settings in Greece, the monasteries perched on top of the massive rocks of Meteora. Interestingly, the monks were against the filming and did all sorts of things to sabotage it and spoil the shots. The filmmakers solved the problem by building both, a fake monastery on a nearby unoccupied rock, and a monastery set in Pinewood studios. Roger Moore had a fear of heights, and to do the climbing in Greece, he resorted to drinking to calm his nerves. Meteora and its amazing ‘mountain rock monasteries’ are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Centre and are well-worth visiting.
From Nia Vardalos, writer and star of My big fat Greek wedding, comes the hilarious comedy My life in ruins. This is a romantic comedy film set amongst the ruins of ancient Greece. The film is about a tour guide whose life takes a personal detour, while her group gets entangled in comic situations among the ruins, with a series of unexpected stops along the way. While opening their eyes to an exotic foreign land, she too begins to see things in new ways—finding her kefi in the process. A movie that shows many renowned Greek sights and in a funny way depicts stereotypes about tourists of all nationalities will not leave you indifferent.
Take time to see our suggested films, and we guarantee that you will get inspired to visit Greece. We will be happy to provide you with an exciting itinerary.
