The quiet Greek island that ‘hasn’t changed for centuries’ that’s set to be huge next summer

A HIDDEN Greek island is set to boom next year thanks to a major blockbuster movie. Ithaca in Greece is known as being the home of Odysseus from Homer’s Odyssey. Ithaca in Greece is known as being the home of Odysseus from Homer’s Odyssey Credit: Alamy The island has pretty beaches as well as quaint villages Credit: Getty And thanks to the recent Hollywood movie release, the island is expecting more tourists. Quieter than its famous neighbours, you’ll find olive groves across the island as well as secluded coves that are ideal for snorkelling. Sign up for the Travel newsletter Thank you! In the capital, Vathy, you can head to one of the world’s largest natural harbours. The town is also home to an Archaeological Museum with artefacts dating back to the Roman times. Read more on travel inspo And if you hadn’t had enough of museums, you could then head to the Nautical and Folklore Museum, which dates back to 1923 and showcases the lifestyle of Old Ithaca. Like many places in Greece, there are also a number of archaeological sites to explore such as the School of Homer. Or you could visit Aestos – an ancient acropolis sat on a hilltop. According to Sunvil, the island has “barely changed for centuries” making it the perfect Greek holiday without the crowds and influences of modernity. Most read in Travel Across the island there are also a number of historical sites Credit: Getty There are several beaches across the island to explore including Gidaki Beach, which is a white pebble beach with clear waters. You can get to the beach by hiking or boat. Filiatro Beach is probably the most accessible; it is a short drive from Vathy. At the beach you can rent a sunbed and there is a small beach bar as well. A recent visitor said: “Love this beach, parking simple, turquoise waters, calm, great for snorkeling, toilets available, paddle boards to hire kept our kids happy, loads of shade under the olive trees.” From Ithaca you can also head to a number of other islands, including Kefalonia and seasonally to Lefkada, Corfu and Zante. There are lots of places to stay on Ithaca, though most of the options are villas – including ones with breathtaking views and pools. The best way to get to Ithaca is by flying to Kefalonia Airport, which costs from £28 per flight. The drive is around 30 minutes to the port of Sami where you can catch a ferry over to Ithaca, which takes around another 30 minutes. Comment now