Nolan's The Odyssey in Sicily: Favignana

Released in summer 2026, The Odyssey by Christopher Nolan is already one of the films of the year. The epic, based on Homer’s poem, chose Sicily as the setting for the island of Ithaca and the mythical lands of Ulysses’ journey. Here is where it was filmed and what to put on the table.

Favignana, the film’s Ithaca

The main set is Favignana, the largest of the Egadi Islands off Sicily’s western coast. The exterior of the palace of Ithaca is the Castello di Santa Caterina, a 15th-century fortress atop the mountain of the same name, with a 360-degree view over the Mediterranean.

The Aeolian Islands as Aeolia

Off Sicily’s northern coast, the volcanic Aeolian Islands — Vulcano, Lipari and Basiluzzo — became the mythical island of Aeolia. The Faraglioni di Lipari, spectacular rock formations, play the poem’s “Wandering Rocks”.

What to eat on Favignana and in the Egadi Islands

Favignana is the home of bluefin tuna, tied to the centuries-old tradition of the mattanza. Try tuna in every form (raw, grilled, preserved), fish couscous (a legacy of nearby Tunisia) and the white wines of the Egadi Islands. For the flavours of the Aeolian Islands, capers and Malvasia remain the stars — we cover them in our itinerary Il Postino in Salina.

In short

The Odyssey brings big international cinema to the heart of wild Sicily. One more reason to discover Favignana and the Egadi Islands, between history, breathtaking landscapes and Italy’s finest tuna. Discover the other films and their food locations.