06 July 2010 11:15
Lights, Camera, Greece! A movie tour of the islands
The beautiful Greek islands play a starring role in many famous films. So we’ve picked out directors’ dream locations to whisk you away on a whistle stop movie tour of Greece...
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On holidays to Greece and its islands, you may start feeling a certain sense of déjà vu. Well don’t worry, it’s natural! Locations of their stunning natural landscapes have been filmed so many times in recent years, you might think you’ve already had a holiday there. To help trigger your memory, we’ve put together an exhilarating movie tour of the Greek islands, so you’ll know what landmarks to look for when you’re there.
Surprisingly, Greece has only really grown into a movie-making haven in the last ten years. The only major film of note made there before the noughties was the James Bond classic For Your Eyes Only (1981). Much of it was shot on location in Corfu – its shimmering sunlit sea providing an atmospheric backdrop to the thrilling speed boat chases. Take a holiday to Kalami Bay or Kanoni Peninsula and you’ll appreciate the pristine white sand, rocky headlands and pine-covered hills that must have caught the director’s eye. On a touristy note, you could even see the impressive Achillion Palace built for the Austrian Empress in 1890 or the pretty Vlacherna Monastery surrounded by the sea on all sides. Both were used as settings for plot points in the film.
Continuing with the spy theme, the Greek islands must be a real magnet for all things espionage as part of The Bourne Identity was also filmed on them in 2002. After all the non-stop high-octane action, the final scenes featured a pretty sea encircled village known as ‘Little Venice’ on the island of Mykonos. However, as something of a contrast, the island is actually not always as tranquil as the scenery may suggest. Many big name DJs come to the stylish clubs here, with Cavo Paradiso and Space Dance being the best places to boogie when you’re here on holiday.
Next we’re off to Skiathos for a change of pace. Who would have thought that this quiet rural island would be the main setting for one of the biggest films of the past few years? We’re talking about Mamma Mia! – the amusing musical which fused a madcap mix of beautiful scenery, Hollywood stars and Abba songs! Interest in
Holidays to Skiathos has increased since the film, but so far it’s still retained its rural, unspoilt charm. For such a small island, you’ll be astonished to find it actually has over 60 beaches. Koukounaries and Asselinos are considered to be two of the best, and luckily pretty much all of them have soft golden sand and crystal clear waters. Inland, dense swathes of verdant forest stretch as far as the eye can see. All the natural greenery makes a wonderful backdrop to the quaint old character of Skiathos Town. Although you’ll also come across classy fashion boutiques and fine dining restaurants along this waterfront village, making for sophisticated evenings out after your hard day’s sunbathing!
And finally, how could we compile a Greek movie tour without mentioning Captain Corelli’s Mandolin? Based on the book of the same name, this movie singlehandedly put Kefalonia on the map as a top holiday destination. Set during the Second World War, the romantic story about Corelli’s love for native Kefalonian Pelagia was heightened by the idyllic island. Bathed in brilliant sunlight throughout the summer, Skala and Makris are two wonderful sandy beaches where you could happily spend your whole holiday. However, stunning natural scenery is not all Kefalonia has to offer – there’s an archaeological museum, natural history museum and even St George’s Castle dating back to 394 AD.
If you’re now feeling in the mood for a trip to a Greek island, why not check out the thousands of cheap holidays to Greece available right now at
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