Skopelos In the Greek Islands

I’m sure by now everyone has heard about the Broadway show, “Mamma Mia”, a musical in tribute to the music of the Swedish band “ABBA”. Then the movie came along with Meryl Streep playing the mother of the girl who is looking for her father, and is trying to unravel the mystery of the 3 men who may or may not be her father. The movie was great and millions of people flocked to the theatres to see it. Of course the music, storyline and the dancing was awesome, but what really stood out in this movie is the location where this movie was made. It was filmed in Greece. In the lovely Island of Sporedes they filmed in the town of Skopelos. These places have wonderful landscapes, beaches, villages and a great local culture. The towns have wonderful quaint buildings, and the villages seem so quiet and look like a nice place to visit and have a great vacation. One could definitely soak up so much local color and learn about the history of these Islands, while also learning about their way of life.

Skopelos is the capital of the Sporades chain of Islands in Greece. It has so much charm that it is considered to be the most charming and prettiest Island in the Greek Islands. It dates back several centuries and it is shaped like a semi-circle around the harbor and has managed to keep its old world charm.

One of the first things that you will notice about this town coming in from a plane is the many churches and chapels that the town has. The Skopelos town has well over 120 churches and the streets are paved in a narrow fashion, allowing you to enjoy the Venetian architecture.

When you enter the towns center, you will find many local shops that sell jewelry, pottery and lace that is most likely handmade by local merchants. In the evening, there are plenty of taverns along the seaside front that also has great food and there is also many festivals, music and dances in the evenings.

It is interesting to see the harbor because this is the way that the town gets all of their supplies for all the merchants, with the daily large ferry boat that brings them their wares. It would be easy to sit by the harbor and watch the daily goings on by just sitting back and having a drink and taking it easy. Many people fall in love with Skopelos and that is why they often return again and again, the charm of the Island pulls them back every year.

There a plenty of decently priced hotels, and resorts in Skopelos but what caught my eye was their Cabanas that they rent out. They are small apartments that can accommodate up to 6 people and are beautiful. One in particular is called the Skopelos Holidays Hotel and Spa. It has been recently refurbished and offers hotel rooms and small apartments and more elegant suites as well.

The Cabana has large rooms with everything that you would need to make you feel at home, such as large rooms, toiletries, spacious kitchenettes and terraces with private pools overlooking the mountains that surround the Island.

ADDRESS:
Paralia Skopelou,
Skopelos island, 
Greece.

Tel: +30-24240-29036 / 23295
Fax:+30-24240-23057 or 23466
e-mail:info@holidayislands.com

There is also the Metochi Villas, and they have many rooms and villas to choose from. The Metochi is a newly developed area and close to the Evangelistria monastery.It is a beautiful landscaped hotel equipped with private swimming pools, right on the hillside, so every room has an elegant and breathtaking view.

The best part about this villa is that it is very close to the surrounding town, where all the shops and restaurants are located, It is especially nice to walk through the village and take in the local culture instead of being behind the wheel of a car to see the sites. There are also donkey trails as well as hiking trails for those that like to hike. And also these villas are made especially to accommodate numerous people to each villa, which make it convenient for famiies, couples and large groups of people vacationing together.

ADDRESS:
Paralia Skopelou,
Skopelos island,
Greece.

Tel: +30-24240-29036 / 23295
Fax:+30-24240-23057 or 23466
e-mail:info@holidayislands.com

The Aeolos Hotel is a beautiful hotel that offers rooms and beautiful more expensive suites in Skopelos. All the rooms are lovely with spacios bathrooms, beautiful breakfast rooms, spas and bars and lounges that stay open all night. The rooms all have terraces where you can view the water and also the landscape, which they keep beautifully manicured. The suites are not only very beautiful but they are also very cozy and theres no doubt that you will be comfortable here. There are private pools as well as childrens pools.They offer laundry services,pool bar and terraces, playground and gardens.

email:aeolosae@otenet.gr

Phone:+30242022233

While many of the locations named in the move Mamma Mia were fictional such as the name of the Island where Meryl Streep lived Kalakairi, most of the scenes were filmed on location in Skopelos.

While the Villa Donna in the movie, the name of Meryl Streep’s villa didn’t exist either, many of the cast members did stay at the Metochi Villas as mentioned above.

Of course you have to fly to Skiathos first and then take a boat to Skopelos.

There are many tours in Skopelos that have tour guides that would be happy to show you where many of the locations in the move were shot, such as the Thalpos Holidays.