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Perhaps
you have read the book, or seen the film, “Captain Corelli’s
Mandolin”. If you wish to see the places where the film was made you
need to have a good memory because very little remains to see. Most
of the filming took place in, or near, Sami and Agia Efimia. The
front of Sami became the Argostoli waterfront and the area around
the hotel Kastro was transformed, the present building all hidden
behind the film set. If you look closely, in the road you will see a
line of cut-outs where explosives were placed.
From
Sami find the road, near to the port office and take the smaller
coast road to Anti-Sami. After the town area, on the left
overlooking the sea, is the house where Nicholas Cage stayed. The
high point on the road, where the land juts out towards the sea is
called Dikalia. Here is where Dr. Yiannis village was constructed,
by the road and where the earth road goes towards the sea. No
digging was allowed, the area being protected archaeological site.
Further along this road you come to the bay and beach of Anti-Sami.
In the fields behind the beach was created the Italian army camp
with gun emplacements by the road side. Before the filming this bay
was quiet, without beds, umbrellas and fences. Retrace your steps up
the hill and take the road to the left signed Moni Agrillion and
Agia Fanendes. The view from the monastery overlooking the sea,
Ithaca and Anti-Sami is worth the visit in itself, however, visit
the little monastery through the gate and soak up the peace. Further
on is Fanendes with its church and ruins from earlier times. As you
approach, up on the left, is the threshing circle seen at the
beginning of the film and the church at the end. Among the trees,
slightly lower and to the left, is the ruined church from the
earthquake of Agios Nikolas overlooking, from high up, Sami.
From
Sami and after Agia Efimia, where the crew and cast also stayed,
take the east coast road towards Fiskardo to find the site of,
Mandras’s beach, shown on the books front cover, after the film was
made, at Komitata take the first road to the right leading down to
the sea. The road leads to Horgota Bay and Agia Sofia. Horgata was
where the fishing boat jetty was constructed, first seen when
Mandras threw Pelagia into the sea. The jetty remained after the
filming finished, but its upkeep has not been maintained.
On the
west coast is the famous bay of Myrtos here were filmed the beach
scenes, the prostitute’s picnic and Corelli’s attempt to blow up the
mine. On the southern slopes is Moni Sia which can be reached down
an unmade road – beautiful in spring with the wild flowers. If you
wish to visit, look carefully for the sign from the main road. Here
were filmed the love scenes between Corelli and Pelagia.
Much of
the book relates the struggles between the Germans and Italians.
Very interesting, regarding these events, is the small museum,
dedicated to the Italians located at the side of the Catholic Church
on Lithostrato in Argostoli. Also you can visit the Italian War
Memorial above the Theodorus lighthouse at Fanari. This area had
particular significance and holds many memories for those involved
in the history of this eventful time. |
