Greek island Ithaca hopes 'Odyssey' film will lure tourists despite no scenes being filmed there

The Italian lawyer Giorgia Ongarato, clutching an "Odyssey" T-shirt, stood on a ferry bound for Ithaca, fulfilling a dream to visit the island believed to be the home of Homer's hero. Ongarato, who studied Greek and the epic poem as a child, also praised Christopher Nolan's film adaptation, calling it "wonderful." She is among a growing number of visitors drawn to Ithaca, hoping to connect with the ancient tale. Businesses and local officials on the island, located in the Ionian Sea, anticipate the film will inspire more tourism.

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I studied Greek when I was a child, and I studied the Odyssey.

Despite the buzz, the blockbuster has stirred some controversy in Greece. While some Greek locations were used, not a single scene was filmed on Ithaca itself. This decision has disappointed some residents, including Xhimi Xhoxha, a restaurant owner in the capital Vathi, who acknowledged the film's "tremendous publicity" but expressed a wish for actual filming to have occurred. Mayor Dionysis Stanitsas echoed this sentiment, noting that while the publicity is "tremendous," the island's exclusion from filming was a missed opportunity.

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wonderful

Ithaca, with a population of roughly 3,000, is not a typical tourist hub. Its rugged interior, dotted with olive and cypress trees, offers a tranquil escape. Even during peak season, the island remains strikingly calm. Visitors will not find Odysseus's palace or definitive archaeological proof of the Homeric hero. However, statues of Odysseus and Homer adorn public spaces, and the island's literary heritage is evident in boat names like "Telemachus" and "Calypso," and trinket shops selling busts of Homer and Penelope.

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generating publicity for the island

Officials are optimistic that increased interest will translate into future bookings. Mayor Stanitsas predicts that as more people see the film, they will plan trips to the island. Ithaca was already fully booked for the current season before the movie's release, suggesting a strong demand for visits. The island's businesses are preparing for a potential surge in visitors next year, hoping to capitalize on the global attention generated by the "Odyssey" and its cinematic interpretation.

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tremendous