Where was 'Odyssey' filmed? A guide to the real locations behind the blockbuster

As "Odyssey" sweeps the box office, the real landscapes and historical sites that brought the film to life are drawing fresh attention as cultural tourism destinations. The production minimized computer-generated imagery in favor of on-location shooting across six countries, turning its filming sites into emerging draws for travelers.

Director Christopher Nolan's latest film has held the No. 1 box office position for 14 consecutive days, drawing more than 5.3 million admissions. Alongside its commercial success, audiences have turned their attention to the overseas locations used to recreate the Trojan War and the homeward voyage from Homer's ancient epic "The Odyssey." The film was shot over 91 days across Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland and the United States.

The production team used Morocco's varied natural and architectural settings to recreate the ancient city of Troy and the early stages of Odysseus's journey. Aït Benhaddou, a fortified village near Ouarzazate in the south of the country, provided the skyline of Troy — its red-earth buildings and sloping ramparts evoking the look of an ancient city.

A key stop on the old Saharan trade routes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, the ksar served as the backdrop for a large-scale battle sequence. The production team built a temporary set of about 10,000 square meters nearby, combining it with the existing walls and structures to stage the fighting. The set was dismantled after filming, leaving only the original earthen village and its surrounding landscape.

The discovery of the Trojan Horse and the departure of Odysseus and his crew were filmed on the beach at Essaouira, an Atlantic coast port city. Against a backdrop of crashing Atlantic waves and sandy shore, the production deployed a full-scale wooden horse standing 10.7 meters tall, with 2,000 extras taking part in the siege scenes. Essaouira — known for its whitewashed buildings, blue-painted doors, medina and the Skala fortress — lies west of Marrakech; traveling southeast from Marrakech over the Atlas Mountains leads to Aït Benhaddou.

Interior scenes set inside the palace of Menelaus were filmed in traditional Moroccan spaces in Marrakech, whose ornate decor and architecture evoked the atmosphere of an ancient royal court. Known as the "Red City" for its rose-hued walls and buildings, Marrakech centers on a UNESCO-listed medina surrounded by souks, palaces, gardens and mosques that reflect Morocco's history and everyday culture.

Odysseus's homeland of Ithaca was filmed on Favignana, a butterfly-shaped island in the Egadi Islands off western Sicily, Italy. Scenes depicting the royal palace where Queen Penelope and Telemachus reside were shot at Santa Caterina Castle, a 15th-century fortress perched atop Monte Santa Caterina at 314 meters above sea level. The ancient stronghold commands a 360-degree view of the Mediterranean and the surrounding countryside, making it a natural fortress setting.

Santa Caterina Castle was built on the site of a Saracen-era watchtower and fortified during Norman rule in the early 12th century. It was rebuilt and expanded to its current form in 1498 under Aragonese control. From the 17th century onward it served as a political prison, holding some 32,000 inmates over the years. Today, though parts of the structure have deteriorated from age and neglect, the castle functions as a lookout point offering sweeping views of the island.

The Cave of Nestor in Messinia, in the Peloponnese region of Greece, provided the setting for Odysseus's encounter with the one-eyed giant Polyphemus. The natural cave features a rounded arched ceiling rising 29 meters and sits above Voidokilia Beach on the northwest slope of Paleokastro.

The site is an archaeological landmark with evidence of human habitation dating to the Neolithic period, and it figures in several Greek myths — among them the legend that the messenger god Hermes hid cattle stolen from Apollo there shortly after his birth. Heinrich Schliemann conducted early explorations in 1874, and the University of Athens and the Athens Archaeological Society carried out a full investigation in 1980. Access for visitors is currently restricted.

The film's maritime sequences combined open-water location shooting with tank-set work. Scenes of the ship cutting through rough seas were filmed off the coast of Norway aboard Draken, a full-scale Viking longship measuring about 35 meters in length. Shipwreck scenes and additional footage requiring precise wave control and safety management were shot at Falls Lake, the large outdoor water tank at Universal Studios Hollywood, using a replica of Draken.

Falls Lake is a facility designed for filming lake and ocean scenes. It measures approximately 67 meters wide and 76 meters long, with a maximum depth of about 7.3 meters. The scenic backdrop spans roughly 62.5 meters wide and 16.8 meters tall.