This Friday, 20th of July 2018, is the UK release date for the second Mamma Mia film, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Whilst we’re looking forward to another attempt at singing by Peirce Brosnan, we’re most excited about the beautiful set location. Key scenes of the film where not in fact filmed in Greece where the movie is set, but on the idyllic Croatian island of Vis.
As with most Croatian islands, Vis has a unique character. It is known to be the most mysterious of the Dalmatian islands because until 1989 it was used as a research base for the Yugoslav army and was closed off to visitors. This isolation has left behind a calm tranquillity and traditionalism that the recent boom in tourism has nearly extinguished elsewhere.
What are the best things to do on this sleepy island?
Tito’s Cave
Josip Broz Tito, the leader of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia and the Resistance to Nazi invasion, had his hideout on Vis. To reach this politically historical cave, you’ll take a turning off the main road and, on reaching the end of the secondary road, park up and climb down stone steps. Be forewarned though – there’s not an awful lot to see once you reach the caves, but it’s exciting to think of the plotting that went on here and to see a fascinating slice of Vis’s history with your own eyes.
A more visually spectacular cave in the vicinity of Vis, is the Blue Cave on the coast of nearby Bisevo island. At certain times of day, sunlight enters the cave, travels through the water and illuminates the cave in a bright blue light.
You’ll need to get your timings right to see the spectacle. The best time to visit is in the morning, but this is a well-known fact so many boat tours arrive at this time which means a queue to the access point often forms. It could be worse though; how many other places have you queued with such spectacular scenery and the option of jumping in the sea whilst you wait?