Mamma Mia!
Beautiful Skopelos and Skiathos
Mamma Mia is a captivating movie that has inspired travelers to explore the beautiful landscapes of Greece.
Have you wondered which of the Greek islands were used for the filming of Mamma Mia - and dreamed of going there?
The movie
This very popular movie was a box office hit, grossing $611.4 million globally on a relatively small $52 million budget. It became the fifth highest-grossing film of 2008, despite the mixed reviews from film critics. The story line is around Sophie and her upcoming wedding on the island she has lived on with her mother Donna. The plot gets complicated when Sophie tries to find out who her father is and discovers that it could be one of three men - all of whom she invited to the island so she can find out which one is her real father, much to Donna's surprise (or maybe shock horror!).
The soundtrack
The soundtrack album of ABBA songs was released in the United States and internationally, produced by Benny Andersson, featuring 16 tracks from the film. It was nominated at the Annual Grammy Awards for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.
Sporades islands
As for the location, the filming was done mostly on two of the Sporades islands, Skopelos and Skiathos, with some shots being on the coastal village of Damouchari in Pelion.
Skopelos
Skopelos is a Greek island in the western Aegean Sea, one of several islands of the Northern Sporades island group. It is to the east of the Pelion peninsula on the mainland and and is part of the Thessaly region. There is not an airport on this island so ferries are the way to go for transport. This is probably why the local population is only around 6000. Lush pine forests cover 80% of the island with numberous flowers, bushes and trees and plenty of native wildlife. It is easy to immerse yourself in the local way of life and to feel like one of the locals who all appear to know each other, are happy and friendly and welcome visitors to their island home.
Skopelos cuisine
One of this sunny island's most popular dishes is "skopelitiki cheese pie" - a delicious savoury pastry filled with local goat's cheese. Skopelos produces its own wine and olive oil, and with local fresh fish, fish stew, plums and prunes, you can be sure of a healthy Greek cuisine, Skopelos style.
Skiathos
Skiathos is best known for its beaches and lively nightlife. Life in general centres around Skiathos Town, where bars and restaurants line the sidewalks along the old harbor and the main pedestrian thoroughfare, Papadiamanti street. Between the town and the airport are many open-air, waterfront clubs. Skiathos is the most popular of the Sporades Islands because, despite its relatively small size, there is a variety of things to do to suit all tastes. Beautiful beaches with a wide choice of water sports, a bustling ferry-port and main town, where little has changed over the centuries. A regular boat service between the island and the other Sporades islands depart from Volos and Agios Konstantinos.
The Skiathos International Airport is at the northeast of the island next to a lagoon and a narrow isthmus separating the island from the peninsula of Lazareta.
Take a Slow Tour
A great way to explore these and some of the other beautiful Greek islands is on one of the wonderful tours in Greece on the Slow Tours website. Take a cruise, a bike and boat tour, a small group tour, food & wine, cycling or cultural heritage tour. There are many tours to suit many tastes. Enjoy discovering new places, stunning blue seas and beautiful beaches. The Greek cuisine is known world-wide so taste the wine, the olive oil, goats and feta cheeses, dolmades, spanakopita, baklava, moussaka, souvlaki and tzatziki, as well as many specialised local foods.
And for seeing the Mamma Mia islands, try a 10-day small group tour or take a bike and boat tour