Do you love to movie set travel? Visiting places made famous on screen? Travel the world like Wonder Woman – or at least visit the places made iconic by the new blockbuster movie. This post looks at some of the backdrops featured in the movie – beautiful locations worthy of a starring role in your travel plans. Spoiler alert: if you haven’t seen the movie, some of the details mentioned here might give things away.
This post was provided by The Travel Corporation Canada. It is re-printed with permission.
Paris, France
Wonder Woman might have left Themyscira for good, but she’ll always have Paris. The Louvre, the world’s most famous museum and Parisian landmark, served as the main star in the first scene of the movie where security guards from Wayne Enterprises delivered a briefcase to Diana Prince, our heroine’s other moniker. Unquestionably one of the finest art galleries in the world, The Louvre is home to hundreds of thousands of classic and modern masterpieces. Originally built as a fortress in 1190, the glass pyramid (officially called La Pyramide du Louvre) that was gorgeously shot in the movie is a relatively new addition, completed in 1989 by Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei.
Travel tip: The Louvre is open everyday except for Tuesday, so plan accordingly. Alternatively, for those that want to put the vacation back into vacation, let Contiki sweat the details while you relax. Their week-long “European Highlights” trip calls Paris home for two full days, visiting The Louvre (among the long list of other Parisian must-do’s) at night. Also included on the trip are navigating both Amsterdam’s and Venice’s famous canals, glitzing it up at in the French Riviera, eating pizza in Rome, driving through scenic German vineyards and we should add, staying in Contiki’s own private château. No biggie. For more information, visit www.contiki.com
Ravello, Italy
Also known as Ravello, Italy in the real-world, Wonder Woman’s home is described as a “lush city-state” and Ravello is as lush as you can get. Perched high on a hilltop overlooking the Amalfi Coast, this medieval village full of winding cobblestone streets and fragrant gardens has the best sightline of the famous coastline. So good are the breathtaking views of the Mediterranean that the film crew used this location to stand in as Themyscira (with some CGI touch-up’s), including that gorgeous shot of the balcony overlooking the water. In fact, that was shot at the private, five-star Villa Cimbrone. While the villa is reserved for guests, the gardens – including the Terrazza dell’Infinito (Terrace of Infinity), where this scene was shot – are open to the public. Looming more than 1,200 feet above the Mediterranean, this terrace is lined by a series of marble busts that on clear days sparkle against the blue sky above and the azure waters below.
Travel tip: Short on time but really want to say that you’ve been to Themyscira, err, we mean Ravello? Opt for Busabout’s 3-day “Italian Adventure” trip that journeys into Ravello, by way of Rome. Not only will you be whisked to this lush destination in a modern and environmentally-friendly coach, but you’ll also get to take in the history of Pompeii, the breathtaking Amalfi Coast and the glitzy glamour of Capri. For those wanting a bit more, they can add this trip onto their Hop-on Hop-off pass that can take them from Ravello to Lisbon for the entire summer! When in Rome…literally! For more information, visit www.busabout.com
Matera, Italy
While Themyscira is depicted as a lush oasis on the outside, the Amazonian city is set against a backdrop of stone buildings on the inside. It’s no wonder why the film crew decided on Matera, Italy – a memorable yet less-visited destination in Southern Italy. Both epic and cinematic to say the least, this ancient town is famous for its extensive cave-dwelling districts, called the ‘Sassi’, and features a park and Rupestrian churches, and has been considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. Its’ square and church of San Pietro Caveoso were used during filming.
Travel tip: Experience Southern Italy in the lap of luxury, one that even Queen Hippolyta would approve of, on Insight Vacations 15-day “Country Roads of Southern Italy and Sicily” guided journey where guests make a stop in Matera exploring the town’s extraordinary ‘Sassi’ – troglodyte dwellings and churches dug out of the rock, the most extensive example of their kind in the Mediterranean. For more information, visit www.insightvacations.com
London, England
Speaking of King’s Cross station, this major London railway terminal was used in the movie to capture British Empire soldiers of all backgrounds heading out to the “front”. Originally built as a temporary passenger station in 1850, the King’s Cross station that we know of today spawned from two platforms that were opened two years later in 1852. The station roof, the largest at the time, was supposedly modelled on the riding school of the Czars of Moscow. While some may dispute Wonder Woman’s actual existence (nonsense, we say), the station was in fact used to transfer soldiers to the frontlines of trench warfare during WW1. When not being used by Wonder Woman, King’s Cross station was also featured in the Harry Potter movies where, in the real Muggle world, fans can actually check out the not-so-imaginary Platform 93Ž4 between the very real platforms 9 and 10.
Travel tip: Get the inside story of King’s Cross station and tons more of London’s famous sights on Trafalgar’s 8-day “London Explorer” trip. From Big Ben to Buckingham Palace, Canadians will be able to experience one of the most exciting capital cities in the world at their own pace. With plenty of free time in between expert guided tours led by locals, fans can also check out Trafalgar Square for more Wonder Woman reminiscing. They’ll also be able to have their “When Harry Met Sally” “I’ll have what she’s having” ice cream moment (you know, the scene where Diana Prince tries ice cream for the first time) at an included dinner at Heddon Street Kitchen, one of Chef Gordon Ramsay’s newest London eateries, when they order the decadent “Chocolate fondant, vanilla ice cream”. For more information, visit www.trafalgar.com
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