OCEAN Independence Magazine

From "Greek Isles in the Summer" Magazine

The two beautiful islands of the Sporades island group in Greece, Skiathos and Skopelos, have been home to film making of Mamma Mia in 2007. The islands with their pine forests coming down to the sea shore, the beautiful small bays and coves with their blue flag beaches are two very popular destinations for a picture perfect vacation. 

The filming of Hollywood movie Mamma Mia is definitely set to open up their wonderful sights to the world. Mamma Mia is the movie adaptation of the hit West End musical stage show of the same name which has been running house full in London and Broadway. The title of the show was derived from the song Mamma Mia by ABBA, whose tunes were used throughout the film. The cinematographic excellence really shows with the awesome presentation of the sights around the two islands.

The star line up of the film who were in the two islands for the shoot included Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard. Shooting for the film were held at Skiathos harbor near Bourtzi on August 2007.  The main climax scene of the movie was shot in the closed sets at the bell tower, with the beautiful sets of a wedding on the island. The shooting at the harbor was a public event with lots of tourists gathering to get a glimpse of the stars, while many locals were invited to play the roles of extras.

The movie had hilarious scenes of a taxi chase between Brosnan and Firth, shot with cameras mounted on cranes as well as quad bikes. They passed through the narrow alleys of the port with the old local cabs playing a major role. The whole day was active at the usually peaceful port had been given a makeover with the sets imitating the 70’s. An overloaded Caique (ferry boat) was shot with cameras on speed boats as it entered the port to enact the scene after the chase where the actors make a run for the ferry. The movie is released on July 11th 2008 in the UK and on July 18th in the USA. 

This not being an article dedicated to those two islands, I am adding two small paragraphs and a few pictures about them below.

"Skopelos island" is the greenest island in Greece. Here, where the green of the pine-trees and the dense forest mix with the deep blue of sea and sky, creating the picture of unrivalled nature beauty, you will find yourself in an idyllic land, in a small paradise in the very heart of Greece. 

The International Organization of Biopolitics, on July the 5th 1997, officially proclaimed it "Green and Blue Island". Similarly the town of Skopelos, by presidential decree, (19/10/1978 Presidential Decree 594,13-11/78) was honored as a Traditional Settlement of outstanding beauty. (The Greek equivalent of a site of Outstanding Architectural Inheritance).

"Skiathos island" on the other hand has much of its pine-covered coasts blessed with exquisite beaches of golden sand. Despite the large presence of sun-starved northern Europeans and the ensuing tourist excess, Skiathos is still a pretty island and not surprisingly one of Greece's premier resorts. 

The island has one only settlement, the port and capital of Skiathos Town on the south-east coast, and the rest of the south coast is one long chain of holiday villas and hotels. The north coast is less accessible. Most people come for the beaches and the nightlife but the truly curious will discover some picturesque walks, hidden valleys and even quite beaches.

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