Arabic version: إيثاكا تتوقع انتعاشاً سياحياً بفضل «الأوديسة» رغم تجاهلها في التصوير

According to SBS News, Greece’s island of Ithaca is preparing for increased visitor interest following the blockbuster success of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, despite no scenes being filmed there. Ithaca, widely believed to be the home of Odysseus in Homer’s epic poem, has roughly 3,000 inhabitants.

The island lies in the Ionian Sea off Greece’s west coast and is far from the country’s main tourism hubs. Known for crystal-clear waters, bays, olive trees and cypresses, Ithaca has not traditionally been a regular stop for travellers.

Italian lawyer Giorgia Ongarato said visiting Ithaca had been a dream of hers because she studied Greek and The Odyssey as a child. She said she was also a fan of the film, which she described as “wonderful”. Local businesses and officials expect the movie to encourage more visitors to make the journey.

Some residents remain disappointed that the production did not shoot on the island. Ithaca mayor Dionysis Stanitsas said the island had contacted the production team to ask for scenes to be filmed there, but this was not feasible. Still, he called the publicity “tremendous” and said the island had already been fully booked for the season when the film was released on 16 July.

Visitors will not find a palace of Odysseus or archaeological evidence confirming the hero existed. However, statues of Odysseus and Homer appear in village squares and at the town hall, while boats, souvenirs and local landmarks reflect the island’s literary heritage. Archaeologist Spyros Couvaras said the movie was driving renewed interest, but added: “Behind Nolan’s film stands Homer.”