Christopher Nolan’s star-studded epic The Odyssey didn’t rely on green screens to bring Homer’s ancient world to life. Instead, the director took his …
1/71. Aït Benhaddou, Morocco | This UNESCO World Heritage Site near Ouarzazate was transformed into the city of Troy for the film. Its mud-brick fortress has also appeared in classics such as Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator, making it one of cinema’s most recognisable filming locations. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
2/72. Essaouira, Morocco | The Atlantic beaches of this coastal town were used for scenes where the Trojan Horse is discovered and where Odysseus begins his long journey home to Ithaca. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
3/73. Voidokilia Beach & Nestor’s Cave, Greece | This horseshoe-shaped beach in the Peloponnese and the nearby cave were used for the Cyclops sequence featuring Polyphemus, bringing one of Homer’s best-known episodes to life. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
4/74. Methoni Castle, Greece | This 13th-century Venetian fortress in the Peloponnese served as the setting for Telemachus’s journey to Pylos, where he searches for news of his father, Odysseus, from King Nestor. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
5/75. Favignana Island, Sicily, Italy | Located off Sicily’s north-west coast, the island’s 15th-century Castello di Santa Caterina doubled as the exterior of Odysseus’s palace in Ithaca. Cast and crew reportedly climbed about 900 feet each day to reach the hilltop fortress. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
6/76. Hjörleifshöfði, Iceland | This striking black-sand headland on Iceland’s south coast stood in for Hades, providing a dramatic volcanic setting for Odysseus’s journey into the Underworld. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
7/77. Moray Coast, Scotland | The Moray coastline, including Findlater Castle and Buckie Harbour, was used for the Laestrygonians sequence. Nearby locations also served as the setting for Circe’s abode, while the world’s largest modern-built Viking longship, Draken, was used during filming. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
