SHOOTING THE GODFATHER

Retrace the steps of Vito and Michael Corleone, the protagonists of the hugely influential, record-breaking blockbuster, The Godfather. With an expert guide to lead the way, you will see the famous filming locations in Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece, as well as its lesser-known backdrops.

Tucked away in the hills, north of Taormina, the unspoilt towns of Savoca and Forza D’Agrò were selected as the settings for this timeless cult trilogy. Both towns have retained a distinctive, truly local atmosphere, allowing visitors to gain a fascinating insight into the social customs in this secluded, rural corner of the region. Here, not only can you relive your favourite scenes immortalized by the director’s camera lens, but also open the curtain to reveal an authentic slice of everyday life in Sicily.

Meet your guide and driver at your accommodation and relax on the ride to Savoca. Here the arched entrance of the iconic Bar Vitelli occupies centre stage. You are now standing in the very spot where Al Pacino informed Apollonia’s father that his name was Michael Corleone and that “there are people who’d pay a lot of money for that information, but then your daughter would lose a father instead of gaining a husband”. The bar looks exactly the way it did in 1972, when Michael asked for Mr Vitelli’s daughter’s hand in marriage and threatened to kill him, all in the same breath. Inside you can take a look at dusty movie stills and photographs of the crew hanging on the stone walls, take pictures with a Lupara rifle, then “leave the gun, take the cannoli” and enjoy a refreshing lemon granita, the pride of this historic cafe.

Just a few steps away, you will notice another celebrity sight: the Church of San Nicolò – aka Santa Lucia – where Michael and Apollonia knelt in the doorway to be married. Re-enact the procession, the same path trodden by the band, the two bodyguards, the newly-weds and their families as you amble down the hill into town. While in Savoca, don’t forget to take a peek inside the creepy underground crypt of the Capuchin convent for a glimpse of Savoca’s macabre history. Here the mummified corpses of illustrious personalities and upper-class residents who died in the 18th and 19th centuries lie in wooden coffins dressed in their Sunday best, offering an eerie starting point for an introduction to local beliefs and traditions.

A short drive will take you to Forza d’Agrò, a hilltop town boasting a remarkably well-preserved medieval layout and dominated by the crumbling ruins of a 12th century Norman castle. While you stroll along the deserted streets (“Where have all men gone?” “They’re dead from vendettas”… remember?), you will come across three props. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata features as a backdrop when young Vito Andolini escapes from Don Ciccio’s men by hiding in a basket on the back of a donkey and also when Michael goes to Corleone for the first time with his bodyguards Calò and Fabrizio. Along Via Roma your guide will point out the house where Vito Andolini was born – just as Michael does to his American wife – while Piazza SS. Trinità might bring back memories of the wedding festivities held here.

After some free time for lunch reach the last stop on this excursion. In Fiumefreddo you will have the exciting opportunity of visiting the Castello degli Schiavi, Don Corleone’s residence. The 18th century mansion is privately owned by a noble Sicilian family and opens to the public only by special appointment. Here, several memorable scenes were shot, including the tragic murder of Apollonia. You will see the garden with the old stone well, the balcony where Al Pacino leaned out, the underground cellars (the setting for some scenes which were later cut), and the interior which has remained largely unchanged for decades. Original paintings, lamps, tables and doors along with all sorts of Godfather-related memorabilia are still carefully safeguarded within this hall of fame.

Exit the stage, the tour is over and it’s time to return to real life and your accommodation in Taormina.