Actress Anne Hathaway (left) and Tom Holland on the set of Favignana Island, off the coast of Sicily, Italy. Photo: Universal .
Christopher Nolan's *The Odyssey* is having a significant impact on tourism in Sicily (Italy) after part of the film was shot on Favignana Island, the largest island in the Egadi archipelago, off the west coast of Sicily.
Here, Nolan and set designer Ruth De Jong found the perfect location to recreate the Ithaca palace. That location was the 15th-century Castello di Santa Caterina, situated atop Monte Santa Caterina, with views of the countryside and the Mediterranean Sea.
Designer Ruth De Jong said the location was suitable for the film because the sea was visible from many positions, and boats used for filming could easily dock.
Due to the lack of roads for motorized vehicles, the crew had to travel by land to reach the location. They spent months searching for other locations that were more logistically advantageous, but ultimately returned to Favignana, believing the island best captured the essence of Ithaca.
Additionally, Nolan also filmed some scenes in the small bays and beaches around the island and the nearby Preveto Island.
Castello di Santa Caterina, seen from the foot of Monte Santa Caterina. Photo: LightRocket.
Shortly after the trailer for The Odyssey was released in May, about two months before the film's theatrical release, Favignana began to be heavily promoted as a destination linked to the movie. Several Airbnb accommodations also featured convenient locations for travelers to explore the places that inspired the film's settings.
Nicola Tarantino, head of the Sicily Film Commission, predicts a significant increase in international visitors to the island, particularly from the United States. He notes a similar effect to that seen in the resort town of Taormina, where season 2 of The White Lotus was filmed in 2022.
According to estimates cited by the daily newspaper La Repubblica , The Odyssey is projected to bring Favignana approximately $287 million over the next three years and more than $500 million in the long term.
A photo of an accommodation in Favignana posted on Airbnb. Photo: Noesis.
Through the director's perspective, the locations featured in the film are brought into the imagination of millions of viewers worldwide , while also adding value to the unique landscape and cultural heritage of the island.
Massimo Proietti, General Manager of Universal Pictures International in Italy, commented that The Odyssey is a special film because its story has become a part of Italian life and culture, even though many people may not realize it.
From a film, The Odyssey is gradually becoming a new driving force for Sicily's economy and tourism, Variety magazine notes.