The Northern Sporades Islands is not just for MamaMia fans
Location Greece:
The Sporades Islands from Skiathos
We will return to Skiathos for “A Week of Sailing in Greece” it will be an informal sailing week for VISC members to focus on having a fabulous fun holiday that is well deserved after another difficult year.
This week caters for skilled and novice sailors alike – a fun and enjoyable experience of “Sailing With Friends”
We will be sailing with our friends around the Sporades Islands, starting from Skiathos and continuing around taking in Skopelos, Loutraki, Panormos, Limonari/Agnontas, Patitiri (Alonnisos), and the marine national park at Kira Panagiaa.
This area, apart from being a fabulous sailing destination, has been made famous as the filming area for the first ABBA: MamaMia movie. Some of the filming locations we may visit include Skiathos harbour and main pier was the main setting for the boat and yacht departures to the “wedding island”, where the famous “taxi race” to miss the ferry occurred and where the three fathers met on the wooden sailing yacht.
The stunning outdoor scenes of the wedding were filmed in the church of Agios Ioannis Sto Kastri in Skopelos while the interior scenes were actually shot at Agion Panton, a tiny church located in front of Panagitsa tou Pirgou at the edge of Skopelos harbor. To reach the Agios Ioannis church, visitors must climb 100 stone-carved steps, but once there, the view is magnificent.
Kastani beach is one of the best on Skopelos and is primarily known for its tranquility and beauty, with its turquoise waters and lush and verdant surroundings. Both the wooden pier and the bar in the movie do not exist anymore though the beach now has a proper beach establishment.
Glisteri was used for basic backgrounds during the movie – it was here that Sophie read her mother’s diary to her friends, for example. The small peninsula near the beach Glisteri was the point where Sophie left for her wedding ceremony.
Milia Beach – although not a filming location per se – features in the movie as well as the small Dahsia islet in the background.
The pretty harbour of Agnontas was the place where the boat in ‘Money Money Money’ was moored and Amarantos definitely merits a visit, especially for sunset.
