Have you ever visited Greece? If you are looking for places to spend your summer vacations after the lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak, Greece is a perfect getaway for so many marvelous reasons! Why? Greece has already received a huge apotheosis by international tabloids, characterized as one of the safest places in the midst of the deadly global pandemic, having done a much better job than most countries in reducing the spread of the disease. According to the German “Bild”, “Hope for this year’s holiday comes from Greece”. Adopting some of the strictest measures in Europe, the Mediterranean gem has reduced so far the pandemic with Greece’s tourism minister to highlight that travel will take place only under “specific new rules”! In short, it seems that Greece is your next paradise escape, don’t you think?

It may be for the spectacular scenery, the crystal clear blue waters, the amazing beaches, the wonderful weather, the friendly people, the delicious food, the award-winning wine, and the mind-blowing history, what is certain is that you are gonna fall in love with this place again and again! Hollywood stars from Tom Hanks and Sean Connery to Julia Roberts declare their love for Greece as they have bought their own houses in greek islands while international jet-setters, young insta-celebs, fashion muses, and it-gals from all over the world choose to visit Greece almost every summer!

Therefore, it is not surprising why some of the most emblematic Hollywood movies were filmed in Greece, and especially in the Greek islands! The tranquility and the ancient Greek spirit inspired production companies and filmmakers to prefer this blessed place where the sky and sea are united in absolute harmony while the flaming sun is diving into the golden rose horizon. We at Gals and the City rounded the top 7 international movies that were shot in Greece to enjoy the  amazing landscapes:

1. Mama Mia (2008)

Comedy, Musical, Romance – IMDb: 6,4 / 10

Starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Amanda Seyfried, among others, Mama Mia is one of the few blockbusters that hardly needs a description. Shot in several locations on the island of Skopelos, as well as in Skiathos and Pelion, the story is about a bride-to-be that tries to find her real father while using hit songs by the popular 1970s group ABBA.

2. Before Midnight (2013)

Drama, Romance – IMDb: 7,9 / 10

“Before Midnight” is the sequel to Before Sunrise (1995) and Before Sunset (2004). Ethan Hawke, as Jesse, and Julie Delpy, as Celine, are nine years on in Greece and almost two decades have passed since their first meeting on that train bound for Vienna. The story unfolds in the beautiful region of Messinia, in Peloponnese. 

3. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001)

Drama, Music, Romance – IMDb: 5,9 / 10

Set during the Italian occupation of Greece during World War II, the story revolves around a love story between a Greek woman, Penelope Cruz, left behind by her fiancé to fight with the Greek army and the local Italian commander, Nicolas Cage, in Kefalonia. The movie is like an ode to the magical beauty of the Ionian island.

4. The Bourne Identity (2002)

Action, Mystery, Thriller – IMDb: 7,9 / 10

Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, picked up by a fishing boat and suffers from amnesia. As flashes of memory are coming back, he escapes eluding assassins while attempting to regain his memory. The movie ends in the picturesque island of Mykonos where Jason tracks down his lover, Marie, in Little Venice.

5. Le Grand Bleu (1988)

Adventure, Drama, Sport – IMDb: 7,6 / 10

Enzo (played by Jean Reno) and Jacques (Jean-Marc Barr), two childhood friends and now world-renowned free divers, live a rivalry that becomes a beautiful and perilous journey into the unknown. This French movie, mostly shot in the Cycladic island of Amorgos and Ios, is like a poem for the beautiful Greek seas.

6. Zorba the Greek (1964)

Comedy – Drama – IMDb: 7,7 /10

This is undoubtedly one of the most famous movies ever filmed in Greece that made the greek dance”sirtaki” popular worldwide for the very first time. The story is about an uptight English writer who travels to Crete for business and his life changes forever when he meets the gregarious Alexis Zorba, played by Anthony Quinn. 

7. Boy on a Dolphin (1957)

Adventure, Drama, Romance – IMDb:  6,2 / 10

Starring Sophia Loren, the story is about a woman who finds a treasure and is torn between two men: one who wants to sell it and one who wants to gift it to Greece. This is the first Hollywood movie shot in Greece, in the Greek Saronic Islands, Hydra, as well as in Delos, Meteora, Rhodes, and of course, Athens, showcasing the splendid beauty of this country to the global audience.

[Cover © Two Hearts One Soul]