One of the most-anticipated movie events of this summer is, without a doubt, Christopher Nolan’s star-studded adaptation of The Odyssey. With those who have seen the film already raving about the stunning visuals and incredible locations, many will be hoping to take in some of the scenery with their own eyes. While filmed across multiple countries and many beautiful landscapes, one of the most striking and key locations can be found in Sicily. So, if you want to enjoy a (less stressful and less lengthy) Odyssey of your own, here’s what you need to know about The Odyssey filming locations in Italy...
Book an amazing villa in Sicily with us and you’ll already have a wealth of stunning things to see, do, and eat in this most cinematic of destinations. In fact, film and television buffs, in particular, will be delighted with the list of major filming locations that they have to to take. As it stands, classics and critical darlings like The Godfather, Cinema Paradiso, L’Avventura, The White Lotus Season 2, The Leopard, Hannibal, The Big Blue, and more have been shot across the island. Add to this some key sea scenes and more from The Odyssey and there is a whole tour to be taken of the island...
The key location for filming of The Odyssey on Sicily was along the famed coastline of the island on a smaller island called Favignana (previously known as Aegusa or “Goat Island”). A hot-spot for Italian tourists and home to a now defunct tuna fishery and the ruin of Castello di Santa Caterina, this is the movie’s Ithaca, the island that Odysseus calls home and one of the most important locations in the film.
While it appeared to Nolan as the ideal place to play the part of this key location, it did present incredible challenges for cast and crew. Visitors who book a vacation rental in Sicily and come visit Favignana may enjoy hiking around but to bring the vast numbers of cast, crew, and equipment that such a production requires up the hillside path to the summit was a different beast entirely. As the original path could not be widened, a new road up the back was to be built with the permission of local authorities.
However, talking to GQ, Nolan noted that this never came to pass: “We would have used 4x4s to get the whole crew up. And then fairly late in the process, it started to become apparent that this road was never going to materialize.” Instead, anyone who could walk did so and others and equipment had to be ferried up and down with helicopters. For actors like Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson, this meant marching to the location in costume each day – including sandals.
Favignana is the largest and most important of the Egadi Islands and up until recently was relatively unknown and unspoiled, favoured by mostly Italian holiday-makers. Authentic, peaceful, and little-altered over time, with a slow pace of life and stunning beaches, it makes sense that Nolan fell in love. In addition to the cinematic good looks, you can enjoy diving and snorkelling, the long heritage of fishing on the island, cycling around to explore, adventures in the astounding and sometimes vast tufa quarries, days on perfect beaches, and more by making your way to this charming little island off the coast of Italy. It may now become a bit more popular so it is a perfect time to book your holiday rental in Sicily to try and beat the crowds that may soon descend on the place.