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Hollywood goes to Greeceā€¦ but why?

Blockbuster hits arenā€™t created by accident. Hundreds of people work on and off set to make those movies come to life and for them to become big hits. One of the many important jobs of those who work behind the scenes is scouting for the ideal locations to film. The natural setting of any motion picture portrays the emotions that the filmmakers are aiming to expose to the audience. The time, energy, effort, let alone the research that needs to be conducted in order to finalize a location is undeniably hard work. Luckily Greece, as a country, offers numerous alternatives, combines various emotions and has proven to be the ideal destination for big Hollywood Blockbuster movies, each for very unique reasons, which we will get into in more detail below. Mamma Mia: Skiathos & Skopelos Greeceā€™s two graceful islands covered in ultra green pine forests, vineyards, and olive groves, majestically stand out of the bunch. The sandy beaches are as if they are made out of fairy dust and the waters are as clear as day. Filled with pops of pink and purple flowers, the towns are charming packed with ample corners to take photographs. With contrasting colors of green, blue and pink, no wonder Meryl Streep was so delightfully happy and carefree! Zorba the Greek: Crete The fifth largest island of the Mediterranean Sea, Crete creates more emotions than any other location. Rich in history and culture, a gastronomic heaven, covered in imposing mountains and home to the most famous beaches in the world, Crete is clearly a country on its own. Zorba the Greek and Anthony Quinn capture Creteā€™s essence and allow the viewer to fearlessly feel intensified emotions. Boy on a Dolphin: Hydra Traveling even farther back in time, to 1957 on the Island of Hydra, where Sophia Loren gave a performance of a lifetime and perhaps where her most iconic looks were filmed. Hydra is an island with a cosmopolitan flair to it that has prohibited the use vehicles and is surrounded by gleaming waters. The donkeys and the horse carriages are just the cherry on top of the fairytale-like scenery. The Guns of Navarone: Rhodes This action movie of the 60ā€™s starring Anthony Quinn took place in the capital of the Dodecanese, Rhodes, also known as the Island of Knights. Its medieval charm and uninterrupted golden beaches along with a number of cultural and archaeological sites compose a perfect holiday destination for all. Whether couples are looking to spend quality romantic time together, or adventurous groups who love sailing and hiking and even families that are reconnecting, Rhodes has a spot for everyone! Lara Croft Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life: Santorini Definitely not a hidden gem as the renowned sunset has been captured by millions of people from all over the globe, making it one of the most photographed sceneries of the world. Santorini is the definition of the saying ā€œOne picture is worth a thousand wordsā€. Too many words have been written about this island. For good reason? We definitely think so and most likely Angelina Jolie and Gerald Butler would agree with us! The Two Faces of January: Athens & Crete Crete does it again, fascinating the audiences with its impressive beauty and its glorious landscapes. However, Athens, the capital city of Greece and city that gave birth to remarkable ideas such as ā€œdemocracyā€, plays a key role in this romantic thriller. No better destination to unravel Kirsten Dunstā€™s and Oscar Isaacā€™s affairs. The Big Blue (Le Grand Bleu): Amorgos Perhaps one of the lesser-known islands of the Aegean Sea, Amorgos is a true hidden Cycladic gem. Its white washed houses, churches tucked into the mountains and the turquoise waters surrounding its coast are a few essential factors that helped unfold Rosanna Arquetteā€™s fascination for Jean-Marc Barr and Jean Reno. Captain Corelliā€™s Mandolin: Kefalonia Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz star in a romantic drama filmed on Kefalonia Island, a pristine and unspoiled island of the Ionian Sea. Having been developed over the past few years, Kefalonia has become a destination where families can enjoy the pool-like beaches and where yachters can uncover secluded coves as they sail around the island. Kefalonia, steals the show as if itā€™s a movie star. Before Midnight: Peloponnese Before Midnight is the third and final movie of the trilogy Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and it could not have been filmed in the most authentic and pure destination in Greece, the Peloponnese. Combining medieval towns with translucent waters and an original Greek vibe, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy blended into the Greek culture so well. Hospitality, warmth, family importance, a lot of good food and deep conversations are what make the Peloponnese such an alluring destination. Feels like home! George Koletsos is Co-Founder ofĀ Kudos Life Experiences. Kudos Life Experiences is a custom-designed private travel specialist to Greece, for the discerning and sophisticated traveler who is seeking to return to the authentic form of personal discovery and explore really life-enriching travel experiences. If you would like to be a guest blogger onĀ A Luxury Travel BlogĀ in order to raise your profile, pleaseĀ contact us.

George Koletsos

George Koletsos is the Founder and CEO of Kudos Life Experiences. Kudos Life Experiences is a bespoke luxury travel specialist, delivering life-enriching journeys that can deeply touch the soul of the sophisticated traveller, through a selective offer of authentic experiences that most people are unaware they could discover. In doing so, we create and deliver unique travel stories, we uncover and provide handpicked accommodation, and we are proud of our insiders extraordinary service, always preserving the highest standards of privacy and execution that set us apart. Prior to Kudos, George has served as the Secretary General of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO).

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One Comment

  1. I can genuinely see why they would want to use Greece as a backdrop for their films. So vibrant and rich in natural colour and beauty. They want to be careful that the backdrop doesnā€™t outshine the film though. Hopefully these films will help Greece get lots of lovely visitors. I hope to go to Rhodes next year.

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