Favignana braces for tourism boom after Nolan's Odyssey

Christopher Nolan's controversial epic "The Odyssey" has turned Favignana, the largest of Sicily's Egadi Islands, into a stand-in for Ithaca. Filming took place at the Aragonese castle of Santa Caterina, on beaches, and near the islet of Preveto, with additional Sicilian locations including Lipari, Vulcano, Panarea, and Pietra del Bagno. The production also shot in Greece, Morocco, Scotland, and Iceland. The island is projected to gain over €250 million in tourism revenue over three years, potentially doubling to €500 million within five, driven by high-spending international visitors. Mayor Giuseppe Pagotto plans to restore trails to the castle and create a permanent Odyssey itinerary involving the former Florio tuna fishery, aiming for cultural tourism over mass tourism. A video message from Nolan was shown at an open-air arena at the Florio site. The island saw a 7% increase in tourist arrivals in 2025, concentrated in five months, and benefits from 11 new international flights from Trapani Airport, 8 km from the ferry. Previous film productions on Favignana include "I Leoni di Sicilia" and "Makari."