One is the Itaca of cinema, the other the mythical Homeric homeland of Ulysses. Both enjoy a tourist appeal increased by The Odyssey, the film by Christopher Nolan that has so far grossed 1.11 billion dollars at the global box office and reshaped the summer routes of travelers.
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The phenomenon
The one between Favignana, the largest of the Egadi archipelago, and the Greek island in the Ionian Sea, is a Mediterranean challenge on the wave of film tourism, the curiosity to visit the places seen on the big screen: a growing phenomenon in the travel industry. Unwto (the United Nations World Tourism Organization) estimates that destinations featured in successful films can increase visitor numbers by 25% to 40%, while the consulting firm Future Market Insights predicts that the sector could generate nearly 157.5 billion dollars worldwide by 2036.
Itaca-Favignana
In Nolan’s film, Favignana transforms into Itaca, homeland of Penelope, her son Telemachus, and the legendary king, Ulysses, who seeks to return there after the end of the Trojan War. The hero’s home was rebuilt near the Santa Caterina castle, a 15th-century residence atop the homonymous mountain (the palace interiors were instead reconstructed on a soundstage in Los Angeles). As reported by the site “Italy for movies,” «Cala Rotonda was used for maritime scenes and as a sea access point; the islet of Preveto was the ideal place to recreate a mythological village; the fishing port of Favignana became an ancient Greek port, where twelve scenic ships were moored».
The production team of The Odyssey spent several months on the island between late 2024 and spring 2025, employing about 500 extras and workers. Mayor Giuseppe Pagoto, speaking to Reuters agency, said this presence generated between 1 and 2 million euros in local spending.
But the long-term effects could be much greater: according to estimates cited by Variety, the tourism induced by the film could generate 287 million dollars in the next three years and over 500 million in the long term.
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