Filming sites and locations from My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 in Corfu

The premiere of My Big, Greek Wedding 3 is already in theaters, and it can't help but spark interest in the island of Corfu. If you too want to enjoy this slice of Greece, here's how you can best enjoy this island, says Antonia Windsor.

"My Big, Greek Wedding 3 "

The third installment of "My Big, Greek Wedding" from Greek-American writer, director and actress Nina Vardalos sends the Portokalos family to an obscure Greek island for a family reunion that turns into an impromptu wedding. This is the first romantic comedy in the series to be filmed in Greece, while the previous two films were shot in Toronto (and took place in Chicago).

With the exception of a few scenes shot on the Cycladic island of Santorini, the film departs from the classic pictures of Greece with white buildings against blue skies and presents pastel-colored village houses against the lush greenery of olive groves and winding mountain roads.

Village

In the movie, Toula (Nina Vardalos) and her family return to the village where her father Gus (played in previous films by the late Michael Constantine) grew up. It is a village that has lost much of its grandeur after most of its inhabitants emigrated. Some scenes were filmed in the traditional mountain village of Varipatades, near Corfu. Varipatades itself has a dwindling number of permanent residents, and so has become an authentic backdrop for the story. The narrow streets are dotted with yellow, pink and amber houses, some with green or brown wooden shutters, most of which have seen better days (the village is currently selling semi detached three-story homes priced around 145k. Euros). The village is surrounded by olive groves and cedars, and the church of Agios Stefanos offers a magnificent view of the surrounding Ionian Sea.

Other scenes of the village were filmed in the village of Danilia, a tourist village in the Kyra Chrysikou area, 10 kilometers from Corfu. This reconstruction of a 1930s Corfiot village was developed in the 1970s and is now owned by the Grecotel group of hotels and resorts. For a small fee, you can take a trip back in time.

The city

In the film, the Portokalos family visits the island's capital, which resembles Corfu with its narrow streets with stores selling brightly colored leather bags. The scenes were actually filmed in the Plaka neighborhood of Athens, which is located below the Acropolis and contains narrow cobblestone streets of neoclassical buildings housing traditional restaurants and artisan stores.

Korfu Town has a similar vibe, especially in the old town, where sidewalk cafes sit in the shadow of stately Byzantine and Venetian buildings and stores spread their wares out into the street, including rows of brightly colored linen garments, piles of brightly woven towels and everywhere the bright blue "evil eye" glittering on key chains, bracelets and bags.

Quay

There's a beach for every mood in Corfu, from windy sand with waves for kitesurfing to pebbly coves for snorkeling. In My Big, Greek Wedding 3, all the waterfront scenes were filmed in Benitses, a beautiful coastal village south of Corfu Town and north of Messonga. In the 1980s, Benítez was a bustling resort, but in recent years it has cleaned itself up and become the place to go for Corfiot's fish specialties bianco (cooked in a garlic-lemon sauce with potatoes) and burdeto (in a spicy tomato sauce). Try the restaurant Klimataria, locals call it "Bellos" after the family that owns it.

Olive tree

In the movie, Tula's brother Nick (Luis Mandylor) insists on finding the oldest olive tree in his father's village. Eventually he finds a wonderful, mangled and knotty tree that looks like something out of Lord of the Rings. This tree can be found in groves belonging to the Daphnis family, which produces Governor olive oil on Corfu. You can book a tour and tasting and visit a magnificent tree called Miterra, the Goose tree in the movie, which the family believes to be around 2,000 years old.

EDA

Greek food features prominently in the movie, from the classic meat kebab souvlaki (which Aunt Voula hands out on the plane) to moussaka, tiropita (cheese cake) and gemista (stuffed vegetables with rice and herbs). For a taste of some of these traditional dishes, head to Alonaki Bay Tavern in Halikun where you can dine overlooking the sea.

Wedding planning

Planning a wedding abroad can be nerve-wracking, but Anglo-Greek Chryssa Poupard and her team of wedding planners can organize the perfect wedding in the fairytale setting of the Courti Estate's recently restored Venetian villa.

The beautiful nine-bedroom pink villa is set amid 10 acres of olive groves and can accommodate an intimate wedding for 20 guests with on-site accommodation or a large wedding for 500 guests. Additional accommodation includes the five-star Olivar Suites, which are within walking distance.

Since ceremonies held on the estate - and many others if you are getting married elsewhere - can only be symbolic, a legal ceremony can be arranged at Corfu Town Hall on the morning of your wedding day.

Wherever you are getting married, make sure you provide the correct documents. You should also arrange for the publication of your intention to marry to appear in the local newspaper, as is customary in Greece (to allow for the possibility of objections).

For more information on what you can do in Corfu, visit visitgreece.gr.