Episode #339: The Odyssey - Legendary Italian Locations from Homer’s Epic Revealed

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Are you fascinated by myths, movies, and Italian history? Explore the legendary journey of Odysseus, uncovering the breathtaking Italian locations featured in Homer's epic poem and the latest blockbuster film. Discover hidden archaeological treasures, epic landscapes, and the real-life settings behind the world's greatest adventure story!

Contents

Summary

Anthropologist and unique tour host Monique Skidmore joins host Katy Clarke in this episode to uncover the Italian locations behind Homer's Odyssey. Inspired by the blockbuster adaptation, they journey through southern Italy, Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, and Sardinia, retracing Odysseus's footsteps from Circe's isle to the whirlpools of Scylla and Charybdis, revealing how these landscapes shaped one of the world's greatest stories.

DISCOVER: Interested in exploring the Italian chapters of Odysseus's journey on an Untold Italy tour? Let us know here.

What you'll learn in this episode

The Odyssey is set in the 13th-12th century BC but wasn't actually composed until the 8th century BC, passed down orally by rhapsodes (traveling storytellers) across 27,000 lines and 24 chapters. This coincided with the era when Greek colonists were settling southern Italy and Sicily as “Magna Graecia,” leaving behind real archaeological evidence still visible today in places like Paestum
Cape Circe on Italy's west coast near Rome is identified as Circe's mythical isle, complete with a real cave possibly used to store Odysseus's belongings and hike-worthy ancient grottos in the surrounding area. Nearby, Lake Avernus (lago d'averno) near Naples, with its volcanic and sulfuric landscape, became linked to the entrance of the underworld through both Homer and Virgil's Aeneid, sitting within the geologically active Phlegraean Fields alongside the sunken city of Baiae
The Li Galli islands off the Sorrentine Peninsula and Amalfi Coast became linked to the deadly, beautiful Sirens, with hiking trails along Punta Campanella and views from Positano offering a way to experience the setting today. Further south, the treacherous whirlpools and currents of the Strait of Messina, the real strip of water between Sicily and Calabria still crossed by ferry and train, inspired the monsters Scylla and Charybdis on either side of the passage
Sicily's Riviera dei Ciclopi, including the dramatic Faraglioni sea stacks near Aci Trezza and Aci Castello, became tied to the myth of Polyphemus the Cyclops, and remains a less-visited stretch of coastline worth exploring. Further north, the volcanically active Aeolian Islands, particularly Lipari and Stromboli, were identified as Aeolia, home of Aeolus the god of the winds, whose gifts and mistakes directly drive the plot of the epic
A hidden bay in northeast Sardinia may match Homer's dramatic description of the Laestrygonians, the giants who attacked Odysseus's fleet, based on local scholarship and modern interpretation of the myth. The episode also touches on Christopher Nolan's new film adaptation and the artistic liberties it takes, plus the possibility that ancient Greek theatres in Taormina and Syracuse once hosted live performances of the epic itself

Timeline Overview

07:56 The Odyssey's historical significance – unpacking the epic's timeline, from its Bronze Age setting to its composition centuries later, and how it was passed down through generations as an oral tradition before ever being written down
10:45 Circe and her island home – identifying Cape Circe on Italy's west coast as the mythical isle of the sorceress Circe, including the real cave possibly linked to Odysseus's story and the area's appeal for hiking today
15:25 Exploring volcanic activity near Pozzuoli – a look at the Phlegraean Fields near Naples, the seismic and sulfuric landscape that shaped the myth of the underworld's entrance at nearby Lake Avernus
19:30 Exploring Amalfi Coast and hiking spots – tracing the legend of the Sirens to the Li Galli islands off the Sorrentine Peninsula, with practical suggestions for hiking Punta Campanella or viewing the islands from Positano
30:10 Victor Bérard's Sardinia theory – exploring the scholarly theory placing the Land of the Laestrygonians in a hidden bay in northeast Sardinia, where giants are said to have attacked Odysseus's fleet

About our guest – Monique Skidmore from Take Me To Europe Tours

Monique Skidmore is an award-winning cultural anthropologist, travel writer, and the founder of Take Me To Europe Tours. With a career that bridges academia and immersive travel, Monique has conducted deep, on-the-ground research across the world and is especially known for her expertise in Myanmar and in Mediterranean archaeology. She speaks several languages and has spent years uncovering Europe's hidden gems, ancient sites, and authentic cultural experiences.

Her work has taken her from the ruins of Ancient Greece to Italy’s Renaissance heart, and she has helped thousands of travelers discover the stories behind Europe's most enchanting destinations and ancient civilizations. Monique’s research, writing and commentaries have earned her international recognition and features on major media outlets such as CNN, BBC, Time, and ABC. Whether leading tailored archaeology and history tours or sharing travel insights through her podcasts and articles, Monique combines scholarly expertise and a passion for authentic local experiences to inspire and inform every kind of adventure.

Follow Monique here

Italian places, foods and concepts mentioned

Places

Naples – bustling southern Italian city famous for its volcanic setting, pizza, and vibrant street life; gateway to the Bay of Naples area
Taormina – scenic hilltop town in Sicily known for spectacular ancient Greek theater ruins and panoramic sea views
Syracuse – historic Sicilian city with a celebrated ancient Greek theater; located not far from Taormina
Campania – region of southern Italy encompassing Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and volcanic landscapes linked to the Odyssey myth
Basilicata – rugged inland region of southern Italy, part of Magna Graecia in ancient times
Puglia (Apulia) – southeastern Italian region on the Adriatic coast noted for whitewashed hill towns and ancient olive groves
Sicily – Mediterranean’s largest island, rich in Greek history, volcanic landscapes, and featured in many Odyssey legends
Sardinia – large, wild Italian island in the Mediterranean, famed for dramatic coasts, ancient history, and Odyssey associations
Malta – island nation south of Sicily, included as a tour destination with deep Mediterranean history
Cyprus – Mediterranean island with a blend of Greek and Near Eastern cultural history, included in regional tours
Egypt – North African country bordering the Mediterranean, visited for its ancient archaeological sites (not technically Europe)
Castle of Methoni – a 13th-century Venetian fortress occupying a promontory in the Peloponnese, Greece
Cape Circe / Monte Circeo – dramatic promontory on the Tyrrhenian coast about 100 km south of Rome, traditionally linked to the witch Circe from the Odyssey
Monte Circeo National Park – protected coastal area around Cape Circe, popular for hiking and prehistoric grottoes
Pontine Marshes – once impenetrable marshlands near Cape Circe, now mostly reclaimed
Lake Avernus – volcanic crater lake near Naples in the Phlegraean Fields, regarded as the entrance to the underworld in Greco-Roman myth
Pozzuoli – port town near Naples located in the Phlegraean Fields, an area of high volcanic activity
Phlegraean Fields – geologically active area west of Naples, dotted with craters, fumaroles, and ancient archaeological sites
Baiae – sunken Roman villa complex near Naples, now an underwater archaeological park viewable by glass-bottom boat
Sorrentine Peninsula – peninsula dividing the Bay of Naples from the Gulf of Salerno, home to Sorrento and access to Amalfi Coast
Punta Campanella – scenic point at the tip of the Sorrentine Peninsula, hiking destination with views of Capri and Li Galli
Li Galli (Sirenuse) – small private archipelago off the Amalfi Coast associated with the sirens of the Odyssey myth. Li Galli, meaning “the cocks”
Positano – glamorous village on the Amalfi Coast, launching point for boat trips to Li Galli
Sirenus Hotel – luxurious, famous hotel in Positano named after the sirens, known for its exclusivity and sea views
Strait of Messina – narrow strait between Sicily and Calabria, legendary home of the sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis
Scilla – coastal town in Calabria traditionally linked to the monster Scylla
Reggio Calabria – city in southwestern mainland Italy facing Sicily across the Strait of Messina; ferry point to Sicily
Messina – port city in northeastern Sicily, connected to Calabria via ferry across the strait
Mount Etna – Europe’s most active volcano, looming above eastern Sicily and visible from across the strait
Catania – lively Sicilian city on Etna’s southern flank, between Syracuse and Taormina
Riviera dei Ciclopi – volcanic coastline near Catania, dotted with dramatic sea stacks known as the Faraglioni of Aci Trezza, linked to the Cyclops myth
Aci Trezza and Aci Castello – charming fishing villages just north of Catania, famous for the Cyclopean Isles and maritime folklore
Aeolian Islands – volcanic archipelago north of Sicily, home to Lipari and Stromboli; associated with Aeolus, keeper of the winds
Lipari – largest Aeolian island, with ancient ruins and dramatic coastline
Stromboli – volcanic Aeolian island, famed for its continuously active volcano and spectacular nighttime eruptions
Costa Smeralda – renowned stretch of coastline in northeastern Sardinia, popular for turquoise waters and rugged cliffs
Strait of Bonifacio – scenic channel separating northern Sardinia from Corsica, area linked to the Laestrygonians myth
Capo d’Orso – dramatic headland in northeastern Sardinia, proposed site of the Odyssey’s Lestrygonian encounter
Porto Pozzo – enclosed harbor near Capo d’Orso, evocative of the Odyssey’s ancient sheltered harbors
Corsica – French Mediterranean island near Sardinia, facing the Strait of Bonifacio

Words / Concepts

The Odyssey – an epic Greek poem attributed to Homer, telling the story of Odysseus’s long and adventurous journey home from the Trojan War
Homer – legendary ancient Greek poet, regarded as the author of The Odyssey and The Iliad
Christopher Nolan – contemporary film director whose adaptation of The Odyssey is referenced throughout the episode
Magna Graecia – “Greater Greece,” the coastal areas of Southern Italy colonized by ancient Greek settlers between the 8th and 3rd centuries BC
Mycenaean Bronze Age Greece – historical era of Greek civilization (approx. 1600–1100 BC), referenced as the time period for some of The Odyssey’s stories
Minoan palaces – ancient architectural complexes from the Minoan civilization on Crete, predecessors of Mycenaean culture
Library of Alexandria – famous ancient center of scholarship in Egypt, where poems like The Odyssey were studied
Epic of Gilgamesh – ancient Mesopotamian poem, cited as bearing strong similarities to The Odyssey
Rhapsodes – ancient Greek oral storytellers who would sing or recite epic poetry like The Odyssey
Virgil – Roman poet who wrote The Aeneid, another famous epic poem that references similar locations and myths
Aeneas – the Trojan hero of Virgil’s Aeneid, who also journeys through mythic Italian landscapes
Nekyomanteion – an oracle of the dead, believed to have operated near Lake Avernus
Zeus’s moral code of xenia – the ancient Greek concept of hospitality and the obligation to care for strangers and travelers
Penelope and Telemachus – Odysseus’s wife and son in The Odyssey, often referenced as exemplars of xenia
Victor Bérard – French scholar who theorized about the locations in The Odyssey, especially in Sardinia
Xenia – the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, central to the morality of The Odyssey

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Podcast episodes

Episode #339: The Odyssey – Legendary Italian Locations from Homer’s Epic Revealed