Matera, Puglia - Palazzo Gattini
Heavily featured in the trailer and the film's opening scene, is the Unesco-protected wonder - Matera in Basilicata - a remote area of southern Italy. Craig stayed at the five-star Palazzo Gattini hotel, in the heart of the Sassi - atop the ancient city and flanking the cathedral. From the roof terrace, of this elegant 17th-century residence, take in panoramic views over the starkly beautiful caves and caverns inhabited since the Stone Age. The historic palazzo's 20 rooms are decked with a discerning mix of treasurable antiques and contemporary art as well houses a subterranean spa. The perfect base for exploring the Basilicata region with its beautiful stretches of unspoilt coastline, delicious cuisine, and intriguing history. Pictured.
Jamaica - GoldenEye
Jamaica has a long association with 007 and its creator - and the latest instalment sees the spy returning to its tranquil shores. In No Time to Die, Bond has retired to Jamaica, where he is enjoying a quiet life in a coastal house just outside Port Antonio on the north-east coast. Ian Fleming’s actual house is located just GoldenEye 50 miles west. GoldenEye was bought by music impresario Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records who has since turned it into an elite getaway and the setting is truly spectacular - a luxury lair with private beaches, hidden coves, and tropical gardens set the scene for the collection of private villas, cottages and beach huts which makes up the resort. The original three bedroom Fleming Villa, which was designed by Fleming himself, can also be rented featuring many of the author's personal items, including the desk at which he wrote much of the 007 canon.
The Cairngorms, Scotland - Fife Arms
Bond has a rich history in Scotland, and Skyfall’s climax was filmed at Glen Coe. This time they have used the Cairngorms, the largest national park in the UK, for the car chase scenes including at the Ardverikie Estate, Loch Laggan, near Dalwhinnie, and Aviemore. Discover the Cairngorms National Parkand the Scottish Highlands with a stay at The Fife Arms - located in the historic Scottish village of Braemar. Reopened by Iwan and Manuela Wirth (also behind the acclaimed global gallery, Hauser & Wirth) the newly restored landmark underwent a transformation from traditional Victorian coaching house to luxury hotel (complete with contemporary Highlands decor) and houses an impressive collection of artwork. Explore the local area with their in-house ghillie whiilst discovering nearby castles, distilleries, rivers and wildlife.
Faroe Isles - Hotel Føroyar
Between Scotland and Iceland, the Faroe Islands are a real retreat to the wilderness. The film takes in the intimidating outcrop and rugged beauty of Kalsoy island, 500 miles west of Norway, in the North Atlantic. Kalsoy, with its untamed shorelines and majestic cliff faces, is home to Safin, the film's evil villain. Accessible by a two-hour flight from Copenhagen, you fly into Vágar, one of 18 islands that make up this rugged archipelago off the coast of Denmark. Stay at Hotel Føroyar - overlooking the capital town and beautiful harbour of Tórshavn - and is a great base for your island adventures. The stylish rooms boast huge windows which offer panoramic views of the unfathomably scenic setting.
Oslo, Norway - The Thief
Scenes were filmed on the Atlantic Ocean Road, one of the most absurdly beautiful and nerve-wracking stretches of roads in the world. Spanning a series of tiny treeless islets, its causeways and arched bridges cross just over eight kilometres of stormy Atlantic waters and also Norway’s Nittedal Forest provided some icy landscapes for the movie, with a chase taking place across a frozen lake in a small town called Nittedal, just eighteen miles north of Oslo. Check into The Thief is the jewel in the crown of Norwegian boutique hotels. The luxury waterfront design-centric hotel - on the islet of Tjuvholmen (Thief Islet) in Oslo, features quirky yet sophisticated mix of furnishings and contemporary art, including pieces by Sir Peter Blake, Damien Hirst and the Queen of Norway.
text