The Godfather Trail: Savoca and Forza d'Agro

Francis Ford Coppola chose these villages for The Godfather because they looked more authentically Sicilian than anywhere in western Sicily, which had changed too much since the 1940s. Half a century later, Savoca and Forza d'Agro remain largely untouched.

Savoca

The village of 1,700 people clings to a ridge above the Ionian coast. The Bar Vitelli -- where Michael Corleone asks permission to court Apollonia -- still operates, its terrace unchanged since 1971. Inside, the walls are covered with photographs from the production. Order a granita di limone and sit where Al Pacino sat.

The Church of Santa Lucia, where the wedding scene was filmed, stands at the top of the village. The interior is modest; the view from the steps is not.

Forza d'Agro

Fifteen minutes from Savoca, this smaller village provided the setting for the town square scenes. The Norman arch and the Chiesa della Triade are immediately recognisable. Unlike Savoca, Forza d'Agro receives fewer visitors -- you may have the square to yourself.

The Catacombs of Savoca

Beneath the Capuchin monastery, mummified bodies from the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries stand in niches. It is macabre, fascinating, and rarely visited. Ask the custodian to open the crypt.

The Drive

From Taormina, the route to Savoca takes 25 minutes through a valley of citrus groves and abandoned railways. The final ascent winds through hairpin curves with views down to the coast. From Savoca to Forza d'Agro is another 15 minutes along a ridge road.

Booking the Tour

The GIORIZZ Godfather Elegance Tour runs approximately 6 hours and includes both villages, a stop at Bar Vitelli, the church, and the catacombs. Your chauffeur provides historical context at each location -- many of our drivers grew up in these villages.