Greece, the country of sun, history and culture, and the Greek islands have always aroused inspiration to cinematographers and also served as the background of famous movies. Filmakers in Hollywood and not only, show preference to Greek landscapes as ideal settings for their movies, providing bright sunlight and magnficent natural scenery. If you are still in search of your next vacation destination, why not try watching some movies filmed in Greece. While Greece will be even more beautiful “in person”, these films will give you a glimpse of what is waiting for you.
Hydra is the first Greek island to host an American production, the well-known “Boy on a dolphin”, starring Sophia Loren. Much of the film was shot on the Saronic Islands, notably Hydra. The film contains also shots of Athens, Rhodes and Delos.
Soon, the director Jules Dassin, showed up another option of Greek beauty in his film “Never on Sunday“, starring Melina Merkouri. The movie, filmed in Piraeus, the main port of Greece, gently introduces the viewer into Greek culture, including dance, music and daily life.
Rhodes hosted the famous movie “Guns of Navarone”, starring Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn. The movie starts with an aerial view of the Greek islands and scenes are set in famous archaeological sites, like Lindos in Rhodes and Sounio.
Later Anthony Quinn played the role of the legendary Zorbas in the famous film “Zorba the Greek”, based on a novel by Nikos Kazantzakis. The film was shot in Crete, particularly in Chania, Apokrounas and Akrotiri. The famous scene in which Quinn dances the sirtaki was shot on the beach of Stavros.
The James Bond series movie “For your eyes only”, was shot in the impressive cliffs of Meteora and particularly in the monastery of Agia Triada.
The beautiful island of Santorini, famous worldwide for its breathtaking sunset and volcano was the background of “Summer Lovers”, and “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life”, starring Angelina Jolie, in 2003 focusing on the famous myth of Atlantis.
In the neighbouring islands of Amorgos, Ios and Mykonos, the famous movie “Big Blue”, an anthem to the Greek sea, was filmed in 1988.
A love story between a Greek woman and an Italian captain was filmed in Kefalonia. “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin”, starring Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz, was exclusively filmed in natural settings in Kefalonia. Specifically, scenes where shot in Sami, Antisamos and Fiscardo.
Skiathos and Skopelos provided the adorable scenery for “Mamma Mia!”, the legendary musical with Meryl Streep. The church of Agios Ioannis in Skopelos, where the wedding scene was filmed became very popular then, and many people travel to Skopelos just to visit this church.
Enjoy the movies and find your next holiday destination!
