The Greek Islands with Julia Bradbury episode 4 – Sporades: This week, Julia’s journey reaches the Sporades. Known as the ‘Paradise Islands’, their lush pine forests and breathtaking coastlines are recognisable to millions as the backdrop of the movie Mamma Mia.
On Skiathos, Julia boards a fishing boat in search of a secret world of hidden coves and deserted beaches, sampling the local delicacy of sea urchins, hand-dived from the island’s crystal clear waters. Heading inland, she visits the hillside monastery of Evangelistria, one of Greece’s most important religious sites, before island-hopping to neighbouring Skopelos to witness a taste of marriage, Greek style. After trying on the island’s traditional wedding dress, her trip ends at the tiny Chapel of St John, the setting for the final scene of Mamma Mia and one of the most spectacular locations in Greece.
The television presenter, whose mother is Greek, uncovers the hidden side of well-known Greek Islands going off the well-trodden tourist track to explore, immerse herself in local traditions and sample the food.
The Greek Islands with Julia Bradbury episode 4 – Sporades
This new six-part series for ITV features Julia Bradbury exploring the hidden side of the dazzling, sun-drenched Greek Islands. The Greek Islands are loved by Brits – with three million flocking there every summer. Julia Bradbury has a special affinity with them as her mother is Greek, and that heritage has always been a big part of her life – yet despite enjoying her summer holidays on the islands she doesn’t know much about the real Greece.
In this series she uncovers the hidden side of well-known islands like Corfu, Crete and Santorini as well as uncovering some lesser-known island gems like Symi, Thirassia and Skopelos, location for global smash Mamma Mia, island-hopping her way to her ultimate destination, Chios – the island of her heritage.
She goes off the well-trodden tourist track to discover secret beaches, exquisite coves and unspoilt countryside, immersing herself in the islands’ age-old traditions and sampling some of the best food and drink they have to offer to provide a vivid and surprising insight into some of our most popular holiday destinations.
Julia says: “I am going to see the hidden side, from the historical and rugged terrain of Crete to the glamour of a sunset in Santorini. But I’ll also be taking in the lesser known islands from the architectural splendour of Symi to the natural wonder of Skopelos, before ending my journey on the island where my family story first began.”
