Mamma Mia Church on Skopelos

Six kilometres east of Glossa lies Agios Ioannis sto Kastri which is a small church on the top of a rock by the sea. Since the movie Mamma Mia was filmed here, the church is called the Mamma Mia Church.

View of Spila beach (red arrow) and Mamma Mia Church (white arrow).

The stretch of road to the church is one of the most beautiful you can imagine and is worth the whole trip. However, the church and the rock themselves are well worth a visit, even without the nice distance, and may be considered as a place you just have to see.

The rock and the church where the final scenes in Mamma Mia was filmed.

The church was not built at the spot by chance, as so often in Greece, a sacred icon plays a role. According to legend, a man from Glossa went fishing in the area when he suddenly saw a light on top of the rock. The next time he went fishing in the same area, he saw the mysterious light again. The islanders then decided to investigate the mystery and climbed up on the rock where they found an icon of Agios Ioannis (Saint John). A miracle. The icon was put in a nearby church near the rock.

The little church of Agios Ioannis sto Kastri.

The next day, the icon was disappeared. Very strange, thought the islanders, and they once again climbed up on the rock. And there lay the icon. Another miracle. :-) To remedy the moving business, a church was built on top of the rock in honour of the icon, the church was named Agios Ioannis. Since then, the icon have kept calm.

Inside the church. The miraculous icon on the left in the image.

A later miracle is that the final scenes of the movie Mamma Mia were filmed here. The film is based on the world's biggest musical comedy Mamma Mia, with music by the Swedish group ABBA. The film is mainly shot in Greece, mostly in Skopelos. The island is called Kalokairi in the movie, so if you want to see the island in the movie you should go here to Skopelos.

Mamma Mia ABBA Agios Ioannis!

Locations where the film was shot are Kastani bay and Kastani beach, and here at the church of Agios Ioannis. The famous wedding in the final scenes was shot in a studio. Other locations where the film was shot are the harbor in Skiathos town and in Damouchari in Pelion, which is north of Skiathos.

Director: Phyllida Lloyd.
Starring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgård.

Movie poster for Mamma Mia in Greek. Fun to see how the names are written in Greek.

The church is very small and there are certainly some that will be disappointed because there are no similarities with the church that was in Mamma Mia, that particular scene was filmed in a studio. Fortunately, the steps up to the church have been renovated (probably thanks to the film) and nowadays you can go up even if you are afraid of heights.

The toilet outside the church is probably not used by anyone anymore. :-)

When I went up to the church for the first time (it was long before the movie), I made it with my heart in my mouth. Ugh, it was really scary. But today, I have no problem going up.

The stairs up to the church. By the red arrow sit two people who did not dare to go any further.

I have gone up several times even though I am afraid of heights.

The narrow entrance and exit to the church area.

To the right of the rock is a small beach with lovely water and beautiful surroundings. The beach is reached by a footpath that starts by the road. The beach is one of my absolute favourites on Skopelos. Not least depending on the mighty view up towards the church of Mamma Mia. A cantina sells simple dishes and cold drinks by the parking area where the road ends.

A canteen sells simple dishes and cold drinks are available at the parking lot.

The beach under Agios Ioannis sto Kastri.

The Mamma-Mia church is visible at the top right of the picture. Don't miss this magical place if you are in Glossa! Actually, you should not miss this wonderful and interesting sight wherever you are in Skopelos.

Mamma Mia beach seen from Agios Ioannis sto Kastri.

The beach is also called Agios Ioannis beach.

If you like snorkeling, you will love the water under the church.

When I see views like this, I can imagine sailing in Greece.

Do not miss Glossa, which you can read about here »

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