Skopelos - a world-famous church

The small church bears the name Agios Ioannis Kastri, which in Czech means Saint John in the castle. It is perched on top of a rock about a hundred meters high that juts out into the sea.

The church is beautifully maintained and offers extraordinary views. However, he got the main fame thanks to the famous movie.

The interior contains beautiful icons and other interesting church objects. Visitors can purchase and light candles here.

Kostelík played in two scenes in the 2007 film. „The Winner Takes it All“ featuring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan and at Sofia's wedding at the end of the film. Film connoisseurs will surely notice that the church is very small and therefore the scenes from inside the church had to be filmed in a film studio.

The rock on which the church stands is connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus along which a path leads.

The ascent to the little church is not easy, it represents almost 200 steps, which are mostly cut in the steep rock. Fortunately, a solid metal railing is installed here.

In the yard around the small church, there are several benches where visitors can rest after a strenuous ascent, and small souvenirs can also be purchased here.

As soon as you climb the stone steps, you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic circular view. It offers picturesque views of the surrounding sea, the neighboring island of Alonissos and the mountainous interior of the island.

To the south of the rock with the church is the nice little beach of Agios Joannis. There is a beautiful view of the church from here and it is possible to cool down here after a difficult climb. Unfortunately, during the season, excursion boats with visitors land here.

It is not easy to get to the church, there is no public transport. It leads to it from the turnoff from the main road on the outskirts of the town of Glosa, it is about 5.5 km of a relatively narrow winding road that often leads around steep slopes, where there is no shortage of surprises.