On July 16 of this year, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey opened in Italian cinemas, and, to tell the truth, for months there has been no talk of anything else—amid expectations and polemics, which are never in short supply. With the Homeric poem back on everyone’s lips, one cannot help but be drawn to this epic narrative that has continued to captivate travelers, writers, and dreamers for more than two thousand years.
The voyage of Odysseus, as told in Homer’s Odyssey, is in fact a journey across boundless seas, through mysterious islands, encounters with legendary creatures, and places suspended between true history and myth that still today seem to guard the memory of the Greek hero. Following Odysseus’s footprints does not merely mean visiting archaeological sites or museums, but immersing oneself in landscapes where the boundary between reality and legend becomes razor-thin: Promontories overlooking the Mediterranean, hidden caves, ancient sea fortresses, and coves reachable only on foot or by boat.
From the coastlines of Lazio to Greece, passing through Sicily and the islands of the Mediterranean, there are countless experiences that allow you to live a journey inspired by Homeric epic. Here are some places to weave into an itinerary in Odysseus’s footsteps or, at least, to feel a bit like travelers and a bit like shipwrecked souls as the Odyssey’s protagonist would have done.
Walking to Circe’s Peak
If you wish to retrace in your mind the same sea observed by Odysseus, know that in Lazio there is a place where legend and landscape truly meet. We are speaking of the Circeo Promontory, long tied to the figure of Circe, one of the Odyssey’s most famous protagonists. According to myth, Odysseus landed on the island of Aeaea, where he encountered Circe, a sorceress capable of transforming men into animals with her powers. Tradition has identified this Lazio promontory precisely as the place where the enchantress would have lived.
Reaching Circe’s Peak, the highest point of the promontory, is an ideal experience for those who want to feel immersed in the hero’s journey. The path winds through the Mediterranean scrub and leads to a breathtaking panorama of the Tyrrhenian Sea, with a view that on clear days extends as far as the Pontine Islands.
Entering Nestor’s Cave
On the western coast of the Peloponnese, near the Voidokilia Bay, lies one of the most fascinating sites tied to Homeric poems: the renowned Nestor’s Cave. According to tradition, this natural cavity would be associated with Nestor, the legendary King of Pylos, and one of the Greek heroes of the Trojan War. The cave overlooks one of Greece’s most spectacular bays, with turquoise waters and a landscape that seems to have remained unchanged through the centuries.
Exploring the Egadi Islands by Boat
Although not strictly “Odyssean,” the Egadi Islands, off the western coast of Sicily, are an ideal destination for those who want to experience the Mediterranean with the same spirit of exploration as Odysseus. Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo shelter hidden coves, sea caves, and crystal-clear bottoms that seem to belong to a grand epic tale.
Sailing between these islands lets you discover corners that are reachable only by sea, just as an ancient traveler would have done in search of the next land to explore. Among the most evocative experiences is a boat trip to Marettimo’s caves or a swim in the waters of Cala Rossa in Favignana, where the contrast between rocks and sea creates a postcard-worthy scene.
Sailing the Strait of Scylla and Charybdis
The most famous stretch of sea in The Odyssey is undoubtedly the one between Calabria and Sicily, where one of the most renowned places of Greek mythology lies: the Strait of Messina, identified by tradition with the passage between Scylla and Charybdis. In the Odyssey Odysseus faced this extremely dangerous stretch of sea, squeezed between two mythical monsters: Scylla, hidden among the rocks, and Charybdis, capable of swallowing the waters and creating deadly whirlpools.
The village of Scilla, with the fishermen’s quarter of Chianalea perched above the water, is a stop that cannot be missed for those who want to add a touch of history and tradition to their journey.
To truly immerse oneself in the atmospheres of Odysseus’s voyage, one of the most evocative experiences is spending a night in an ancient tonnara transformed into a lodging: there are many in Sicily. These places recount centuries of the relationship between humans and the sea: ancient stone buildings where tuna processing once took place, today converted into residences with views of the Mediterranean.
Attending a Performance at the Epidaurus Festival
Among the most thrilling experiences for lovers of the classical world is attending a performance in the Theater of Epidaurus, one of the best-preserved ancient theaters in the world. Every summer the Epidaurus Festival revives tragedies and comedies of ancient Greek drama in a setting of extraordinary atmosphere.
Sitting on the seating arranged more than two thousand years ago and listening to a performance beneath a starry sky means living a direct connection with the culture that gave birth to Odysseus’s myths. The theater, renowned also for its incredible acoustics, is thus one of the most evocative stops on a journey into Classical Greece.
Visiting Methoni Castle
On the Peloponnesian coast stands Methoni Castle, a spectacular fortress built on the sea that seems lifted from a tale of travels and conquests. Overlooking the Ionian Sea, the fortress is one of the most scenographic sites of southern Greece. Its walls, towers, and the long bridge that leads to the entrance recount centuries of Mediterranean history. Strolling among the ruins at sunset allows you to imagine ships appearing on the horizon and ancient navigators ready to set sail toward new lands.
Exploring Acrocorinth
Above the city of Corinth rises Acrocorinth, one of Greece’s most imposing fortresses. This ancient citadel dominates the surrounding countryside from atop a hill and offers a spectacular view of the Gulf of Corinth and the Peloponnese.
Discovering Aspri Ammos, Calypso’s Beach
Among the most evocative places associated with Odysseus’s journey is also Aspri Ammos, a wild beach linked to the legend of Calypso, the nymph who, according to the Odyssey, kept the hero on her island for years. Tradition places the episode on the island of Ogigia, identified by some scholars with various locations around the Mediterranean.
Some Greek beaches, including Aspri Ammos, have over the years been associated with the charm of this myth thanks to their pristine nature and isolated atmosphere.
Setting Sail on a Traditional Boat at Sunset
To culminate a journey in the footsteps of Odysseus, there is no more symbolic experience than setting sail on a traditional boat at sunset. Slowly navigating as the Sun sinks over the sea allows you to rediscover the Mediterranean in its most authentic dimension: wind, waves, and silence, just as ancient navigators did.
