Lately, Messinia feels like a case of Everything, Everywhere, All At Once – just like the title of the film that won the 2022 Academy Award for Best Actress, awarded to 62-year-old Malaysian legend Michelle Yeoh. Who would’ve told me, all those years ago when I was watching her martial arts films on VHS tapes, that I’d one day be chasing her down for a few words at The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort at Costa Navarino – where the International Olympic Committee had just held a historic session and elected a new president?

“I absolutely love being here!” she told me. “I’ve been to Greece before, to Athens and Mykonos, but this was my first time in Ancient Olympia, and it was truly something special. Greeks are always so warm and friendly … It’s a real joy to be in this country.”

And what, I asked her, connects the world of the Olympic Games – which she has been representing as an IOC member since 2023 – with the world of cinema?

“Oh, but it’s the magic!”

Not so long ago, only by magic could this corner of the southwestern Peloponnese have hosted, all at once,  an Emir, a Grand Duke, six princes and princesses, a baron, and some of the world’s greatest athletes, whose combined achievements include 78 Olympic medals – 34 gold, 29 silver, and 15 bronze – along with 80 golds in World Championships and countless other distinctions.

My assignment here – with a MEDIA pass around my neck and with the security team (including Aris, the imposing police dog) discreetly tracking my movements – was to gather a few comments from these VIPs about their experience, the hospitality, or simply the fact that one of the most historic IOC Sessions ever – the 144th – had just taken place right here, in the land where the Olympic Games were born: a session that kicked off with a deeply symbolic and moving ceremony in Ancient Olympia, and culminated in the first-ever election of a woman (and an African woman, at that) to the IOC Presidency. 

To begin with, I spotted the easiest person to find, thanks to his height (2.13m): Spanish basketball legend Pau Gasol, two-time NBA champion and six-time All-Star, with two Olympic silver medals, one bronze, a World Championship gold, three European titles, and so many other accolades that you’d get tired just reading the list.

“I’m happy to be in Greece,” he said. “It means a lot that this historic IOC Session is taking place here, in the land where the Olympic spirit was born. I’m also glad I had the chance to experience Costa Navarino and – for the very first time – to visit Ancient Olympia. That was a very special moment.”

That same enthusiasm – in her own words – came through in comments from Australia’s Jessica Fox, triple Olympic gold medalist in canoe slalom. Though she was rushing to catch a ride, she didn’t hesitate to share a quick thought.

“It’s been an incredible experience, as an athlete, to visit Ancient Olympia. Being in the place where it all began is a source of inspiration for every athlete, and the fact that this session is being held in Greece gives it a special meaning for the Olympic Movement. The organization, the atmosphere, the people: everything was exceptional. I truly hope to come back.”

Many heartfelt ‘thank yous’

It seems the opportunity will come again. As Spyros Capralos, now officially a member of the IOC’s Executive Board, recently told Kathimerini, the previous session was originally planned to take place in Greece in 2021, but the pandemic disrupted the schedule, forcing the proceedings online. The “appointment” was rescheduled for this year, and that’s when he proposed the idea: “Every time there is a new presidential election, the IOC Session should take place in Greece”– a proposal meant as a vital reaffirmation of the link between the modern Games and their ancient roots and ideals.

The success of the March event has clearly paved the way. “Everyone felt at ease, everyone was inspired to be here – at our roots, in Greece. And everyone was pleased with both the organization and the hospitality,” said Thomas Bach in his closing remarks. The IOC’s doyenne, Princess Nora of Liechtenstein, also made sure to express “a heartfelt thank you” to Greece for “being such a fantastic host. You did everything to make us feel truly welcome. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making our stay so special, in these marvelous surroundings”.

If, in this equation, Ancient Olympia offered the historical gravitas, the timeless inspiration, the strong symbolism and the global radiance, the role of organizer and host was no less critical. And that’s exactly what Costa Navarino delivered.

For years now, Costa Navarino has been working closely with the Olympic Movement, the International Olympic Academy, and the Hellenic Olympic Committee. Around this time last year, the International Olympic Academy Golf Course – the world’s first golf course to operate under the auspices of the IOA – became one of the first official stops of the Olympic Torch Relay. The relay began in Ancient Olympia and concluded in Paris. It was, in fact, the first golf course in the Mediterranean ever to host the Olympic Flame.

During this year’s IOC Session, there were hundreds of media mentions of the “luxury resort,” many pointing out how well it lived up to the expectations of the event. It delivered with its infrastructure – a state-of-the- art conference center, a fully equipped press hub inside the indoor basketball arena, and top-tier food and beverage venues – and, equally important, with the level of control and security it offered. It provided an environment where IOC members and guests enjoyed the standard of hospitality they’re accustomed to, while minimizing any requirement for travel as well. Needs were met at the highest of levels – I was informed that Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino, opened ahead of the official start of its season exclusively for his Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and his 80-member entourage.

The impressions of the IOC dignitaries were perfectly summed up by Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, who kindly offered me a few words in the mixed zone, or media area: “We spent four wonderful days here. Of course, we had a lot of work to do, but at the same time, we had the opportunity to enjoy the unique atmosphere of this truly special place. The visit to Olympia was fantastic – and it inspired all of us. I think it was an excellent idea on the part of the organizing committee here in Greece to begin our session with a day in Ancient Olympia. It gave us the chance to reconnect with the spirit and ideals of the Olympic Movement. It’s always a joy for me to return to Greece – such a beautiful country, with warm and welcoming people.”

A touch of Hollywood glamour

Just a few kilometers away, the Greek portion of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey shoot was nearing its end. The New York Times correspondent covering the IOC Session, Tariq Panja, made mention of both events in his report:

“The largesse on show in Greece illustrated the IOC’s enormous wealth and the status its members enjoy. Golf carts ferried officials around the sprawling resort where rooms can cost more than $2,500 per night; recent guests have included the actor Bill Murray and the soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

The power of the organization was also clear. The presence of the Olympic movement disrupted the filming of director Christopher Nolan’s big-budget recreation of The Odyssey, taking place nearby, after local officials grounded a helicopter crew until the Olympic circus had left town.”

While princes and Olympic champions gathered, Christopher Nolan – arguably the most important filmmaker in modern Hollywood and, to many, its great savior – was wrapping up the Greek leg of his upcoming epic The Odyssey. With two Oscars under his belt and an overall career box office gross of $6.6 billion, Nolan brought with him an all-star cast, including Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as Telemachus and Jon Bernthal as Menelaus.

Filming took place in iconic locations: Voidokilia, Almyrolakka, Nestor’s Cave, Methoni Castle, and even the Acrocorinth. Galleys were built, extras cast from local villages, helmets forged, and helicopters launched. Matt Damon, according to reports, was thrilled to dine on fava, grilled octopus and goat stew in Gialova, where the production crew had taken over parts of the village.

Throughout March, news coverage flooded Greek and international media. Behind-the-scenes photos, paparazzi shots, and a few grainy selfies began surfacing on social media, fueling anticipation for what promises to be a cinematic spectacle – shot in cutting-edge IMAX and scheduled for release in July 2026. Even the unofficial fan account, Christopher Nolan Art & Updates, has generated around a million of views with early glimpses from the Greek shoot – just a drop in the ocean compared to what’s likely to follow as the production rolls on. “I’ve seen images of the Cyclops in Nolan’s Odyssey,” the account’s admin teased in a recent post. “I’m not sharing them — I don’t want to spoil anything. They might leak soon, but please don’t repost them if you come across them.”

On February 25, the Hellenic Film Commission – Creative Greece officially welcomed the filming of The Odyssey to Greece, presenting it as a direct outcome of the country’s successful incentive program for international productions, as well as of the negotiations with Universal Pictures and Syncopy, Inc. A few days earlier, the website Greek Travel Pages had reported that the Greek shoot would be handled by NAFA, a subsidiary of Faliro House Productions – the company founded in 2008 by Christos V. Konstantakopoulos. Costa Navarino would be providing hospitality for the production (with W Costa Navarino opening early for that purpose).

On March 10, a press release from the Messinia Hoteliers Association went further, describing “the son of the legendary Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos” – as “a man of the arts with international credentials, to whom we extend our sincere thanks for the visibility this production brings to the Pylos region and to Messinia as a whole, showcasing its profound historical legacy.”

The same release also highlighted Konstantakopoulos’ role as a producer of Richard Linklater’s Before Midnight, which was also filmed in Messinia – as well as several other films that have gone on to earn global recognition.

A lasting commitment

The fact that both the IOC Session and the filming of The Odyssey took place in this part of Greece, rich in both natural bounty and historical importance – a region that, just fifteen years ago, was absent from both the tourist and cinematic maps – wasn’t merely a happy coincidence; it was the result of a long-term strategy, carried out with unwavering focus by the sons of the late Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos.

The visionary behind Costa Navarino, Captain Vassilis changed the course of Messinia’s future. And his sons have remained true to the principle he passed on to them, a principle as bold and unshakable as the man himself:

“When you’ve got something important and difficult to do, once you decide to go for it, be made of cement. Don’t budge an inch.”

On one side, there is Achilles V. Constantakopoulos’ sustained investment in luxury tourism and residential development – in golf courses and sports facilities, in promoting the region’s authentic narrative and core virtues, all within the framework of a high-quality tourism product. This effort has earned dozens of international awards and, to date, has generated more than 37,000 positive mentions and media features across global and domestic outlets.

On the other, there is the remarkably successful merging of this destination with the worlds of cinema and television – a pairing that has brought Messinia into the international spotlight in ways once unimaginable.

Every summer since 2015, away from the cameras and the spotlight, the intercultural platform Oxbelly, founded by Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, has quietly brought some of the most influential voices in storytelling to Costa Navarino. Directors, screenwriters, producers, cinematographers and actors from all over the world come together to mentor emerging creators, participate in workshops, exchange ideas about the present and future of visual storytelling, and enjoy family vacations by the sea.

Individuals such as Paul Thomas Anderson, Richard Linklater, Ruben Östlund, Lulu Wang, Lisa Cholodenko and Willem Dafoe have all taken part in this retreat, which continues to evolve each year, steadily raising the bar on both ambition and impact.

Their presence – and their word-of-mouth advocacy – carries weight. It amplifies the reputation of the destination and helps yet more pieces fall into place for Messinia. This March, that became unmistakably clear.

For Dimitris Karalis, president of the Messinia Hoteliers Association, the wave of positive publicity is a clear call to action for the Ministry of Tourism and the Region of the Peloponnese.

“This should be the trigger,” he says, “for them to stop and think – to open up a new tourism destination by promoting the area’s history and its culture. Nolan’s film project gave people the chance to see what’s been missing. What’s missing is identity – and that’s exactly what we should have made our flag.”

Karalis places particular emphasis on a tourism policy rooted in culture.

“This place,” he says, “has one unbeatable asset: its cultural heritage. That’s our superpower. First we need to define a strategy, and then we can start building.”

“We were given a rare opportunity to showcase something truly unique. Homer has been the subject of scholars, writers, philosophers and historians. And now, Nolan comes to remind those of us who live here today of the epic – of everything it explores and represents. This is a milestone. A point in time, in space, and in our lives. It’s also a vital chance to promote and unlock the potential of this land, a chance to go beyond the individual place names such as Pylos, Navarino, Voidokilia, which may have sparked Nolan’s vision, but are just the beginning.”

“For us, this should be seen as an opportunity – perhaps even a once-in-a-lifetime one. In my 48 years, I’ve never seen such momentum. We have to seize it.”

Pylos at the Getty

While these two recent events – the IOC Session and the filming of The Odyssey – captured very different levels of public attention in Greece, with the former receiving relatively little and the latter significantly more, they strike a balance when it comes to the international visibility of the region. Together, they expand the narrative of a place shaped by ancient history and natural beauty – a place ready to host the future.

Messinia is now being introduced to the world as both timeless and timely – a destination of growing relevance in the global consciousness. And soon, its ancient legacy will shine forth from one of the world’s most iconic museums: the Getty Villa Museum in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. This grand Roman-style villa, home to masterpieces of ancient art and miraculously spared from the recent devastating wildfires, will host the exhibition Kingdom of Pylos, currently on show at the Archaeological Museum of Messinia in Kalamata, and titled Princes of Pylos: Treasures of the Bronze Age from Messinia (through April 27).

The result of a long-term collaboration between the Ephorate of Antiquities of Messinia, the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the Getty Museum and the University of Cincinnati, the exhibition highlights the cultural identity of Mycenaean Messinia. It brings to light, for the first time, artifacts of exceptional aesthetic and archaeological significance.

Among the highlights are the exquisite grave goods from the unlooted Tomb of the Griffin Warrior, discovered in 2015 by archaeologists Jack Davis and Sharon Stocker. The exhibition also features recent finds from the tholos tombs VI and VII at Englianos, the vaulted tomb at Psari, the iconic diadem from Myrsinochori, and objects unearthed in earlier excavations.

Delicate gold jewelry; intricately carved seal stones whose imagery is revealed in extraordinary detail through modern imaging techniques; tablets inscribed in Linear B; wall paintings; and digital reconstructions of the Palace of Nestor: all come together to form a sweeping portrait of Mycenaean Messinia’s cultural identity. Together, they affirm a simple truth: that the present and future remain deeply rooted in a glorious, distant past.

As the opening date of the Kingdom of Pylos exhibition – June 25 – draws near, there is little doubt that a new wave of positive international attention for Messinia will soon appear, this time from across the Atlantic.

Panagiotis Karvelas, Mayor of Pylos-Nestor

During a brief conversation, Mayor Karvelas spoke about the positive impact of the filming, the way it showcased the unique character of the region, and the wave of international exposure that is expected to peak with the release of The Odyssey: “It will spark the interest of many potential visitors.”

He also pointed to more immediate, tangible benefits: “A lot of people were employed, and many local businesses came alive outside the traditional season, for a month and a half. It was a real boost, not just financially, but emotionally, too. It was the best possible start to the new season.”

How, in his view, I asked, did the presence of Costa Navarino over the past 15 years relate to all this? “The impact has been extremely positive for us. It’s not just that many locals have found employment there, or that countless small businesses collaborate with the resort. There are many other benefits. The area has become a high-end, highly recognizable destination — and this isn’t just a ‘place to sleep,’ it’s a place full of experiences and activities, and all of it developed with full respect for the environment.

“It also attracts high-profile visitors, which drives tourism across Messinia, especially in our municipality. At the same time, it creates added value. More and more people want to live here, and as a result, we’re seeing new businesses open up – raising standards for everyone.”

And what is the role of the local municipal authority in a small town whose name is now being heard around the world? “Our contribution is crucial,” Karvelas explained, “because we provide the essential foundation of social consensus. Above all, it is our responsibility to support this growth through infrastructure, and through projects that ensure balanced economic and social development.”

“Our goal for the coming years is to complete all urban planning studies. This will allow us to define areas where construction will be permitted – and equally, to identify those areas that must be protected. We also need to secure funding for key infrastructure projects: wastewater and water supply systems, improvements to quality of life within the settlements, flood prevention, and fire safety. These are the main priorities in the years ahead.

“At the same time, we must invest in education: in creating training structures that will equip our local workforce with the knowledge and skills needed for both the tourism and agricultural sectors.”

‘Balanced development is the goal’

Giorgos Leventakis, Mayor of Trifylia

The perspective from the municipality of Trifylia,  located north of Costa Navarino, is quite different. With a population of 28,000, the area spans three towns and 52 villages, covering a territory larger even than that of Kalamata.

For Mayor Giorgos Leventakis, the long-standing delay in completing the Kalo Nero–Tsakona highway remains a major obstacle to the region’s tourism development. The road would provide safe and efficient access – a basic requirement that still hasn’t been met.

At the same time, Trifylia’s agricultural character is under pressure. Rising production costs and a shortage of labor are putting a strain on one of the area’s most vital sectors.

“Costa Navarino gave life, breath, and jobs to so many people in our region,” Leventakis says, speaking with visible respect for the late Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos.

“He was a man who looked you in the eye and spoke straight to your heart. If he had been allowed to complete this investment earlier, many years ago, he would have had more time to enjoy what he built. He faced enormous opposition and fought a deeply personal battle.

“At one point, he had to stand in line at the Urban Planning Office just to get paperwork done. I have great respect for his memory. He helped our municipality – and many others. He made donations. And his sons – especially Achilles, who is close to us – have always responded when we’ve asked for support. Without them, our towns might have been deserted.”

At the same time, the mayor paints a sobering picture of long-standing, unresolved issues that continue to hold back tourism and social progress in his part of the region – in stark contrast to the more developed and well-publicized south. Despite the area’s natural and cultural wealth, there is a lack of investment interest. Regulatory and bureaucratic bottlenecks persist. Local services are understaffed. Cultivated lands are being abandoned.

“We have beautiful villages with only twenty residents left,” Leventakis says. “We have stunning landscapes that are at risk of turning into unregulated camping sites. And the worst part? We don’t even see our problems being put in any kind of order for resolution. We’re experiencing abandonment. And all we want – all we’ve ever wanted – is what’s best for our land.”

With research support from Niki Agrafioti.