Where was The Big Blue filmed?

Amorgos served as the primary filming location for Luc Besson's 1988 film. The main dive sequences were filmed near Agia Anna beach in the south of the island.

Can visitors enter the Hozoviotissa Monastery?

Yes — the monastery is open to visitors at set hours (check locally). Modest dress is required. The path up to the monastery is demanding but the interior is extraordinary.

Teleporio™ — Greek Island Travel Intelligence

Amorgos Travel Guide

Plan your Amorgos trip. Remote eastern Cyclades island, the Big Blue film location, dramatic cliff monastery and authentic island life.

Reviewed by Georgios — Teleporio™ route intelligence guide — Updated 2026-07-24

Why Amorgos Is Worth Understanding

Amorgos was unknown to most international travellers before 1988, when Luc Besson chose the island as the setting for The Big Blue (Le Grand Bleu) — his film about competitive free diving. The film was a massive commercial success in France, and the scenes of diving off the limestone cliffs into extraordinarily clear water effectively defined the visual language through which Amorgos would be understood for the next generation. The film was shot partly at Agia Anna beach and in the waters below the Chozoviotissa monastery. Both locations are still visited by fans of the film, and the island's tourism has been shaped significantly by this single cinematic moment.

Amorgos is the easternmost island of the Cyclades — positioned at the outer margin of the group, remote in a way that Naxos or Paros are not. The ferry journey from Piraeus takes 8-10 hours on slower services, and the island's position means it often bears the full force of the Meltemi. This exposure, combined with the spectacular cliff scenery, creates a landscape of considerable drama: white villages clinging to hillsides above deep blue water, the Chozoviotissa monastery built directly into a cliff face 200 metres above the sea, and the long narrow shape of the island (32km long, 2-6km wide) that creates a constant sense of precarious elevation above the Aegean. Amorgos rewards those willing to make the journey.

History and Heritage

Amorgos was one of the sites of Early Cycladic culture (3000-2000 BC) — the marble figurines produced here during this period are among the most important prehistoric artworks in the Aegean. The Archaeological Museum of Athens holds significant finds from Amorgos, and the island's ancient city of Minoa was a significant Cycladic settlement. The Chozoviotissa monastery, built in 1088 at the order of the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, is built directly into the cliff face — a construction achievement that remains astonishing to this day. The monastery holds important Byzantine manuscripts and icons.

What Amorgos Is Famous For

The Big Blue (1988) — Luc Besson's film about free diving, shot partly on the island
Chozoviotissa monastery — 11th-century monastery built into a vertical cliff face
Aegiali and Katapola — the two main port towns on the island's flanks
Early Cycladic marble figurines — significant prehistoric finds from the island
Remote character — the most easterly Cyclades island, less visited than the central group
Exceptional water clarity — one of the clearest in the Aegean

Local Specialities

Amorgos produces its own ouzo — the island's most distinctive local product. Local honey from the island's wild herbs. Fresh fish from the small harbours at Katapola and Aegiali. A traditional local sweet called melopita (honey pie) made with local honey and mizithra cheese. The food offer is simple and authentic — island cooking at its most basic and most honest.

Best Time to Visit

May-June and September-October. The Meltemi in July-August creates rough conditions on the approach to Amorgos and can strand visitors for 24-48 hours if a severe northerly builds. Always build a buffer day before any onward travel or flight when visiting Amorgos. The island is relatively quiet even in peak season — it does not attract mass tourism because of the journey time. Allow 3-4 days minimum.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Amorgos? Ferry from Piraeus takes 8-10 hours on conventional services, 6-7 hours on fast catamaran (Sea Jets in summer). Also accessible from Naxos (1.5-2 hours). Does Amorgos have two ports? Yes — Katapola in the west and Aegiali in the northeast. Check which port your ferry uses when booking. Is The Big Blue worth watching before visiting? Very much so — the film captures the light and landscape of the island accurately and enhances the visit. Is Amorgos affected by the Meltemi? Significantly — the easterly position makes it one of the more exposed Cyclades islands. Book morning ferries and build itinerary buffer. What makes Chozoviotissa special? The monastery is built directly into a sheer cliff face at 200m elevation. The interior is a series of rooms carved into the rock, and visiting monks will show you the important icons and manuscripts.