Are you a fan of The Godfather? This American crime movie has a loyal fan-base, even 50 years after it first aired. The movies are based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 best-selling novel that follows the life of the Corleone family under patriarch Vito Corleone. The story describes the transformation of Vito’s youngest son, played by Al Pacino, from the black sheep of the family to a heartless mafia leader. If this story captured you, too, then these The Godfather locations in Sicily might be a good option for your next trip.
Corleone – The town the movie was based on
Interestingly enough, the town that the movie was based on wasn’t even one of the filming locations. However, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth a visit. Corleone is a small town and commune in Sicily, with about 11,000 residents. There are several real-life mafia bosses that have come from Corleone, such as Giuseppe Morello and Tommy Gagliano. While in Corleone, you can also visit the Mafia and Anti-Mafia Museum of Corleone. This museum contains incredibly rare documents describing Italy’s constant fight against the mafia. Some of the documents are a testament to the work of magistrates like Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino. These men were so committed to their fight against the mafia that they even sacrificed their own lives for it.
Savoca and Forza d’Agrò
Savoca and Forza d’Agrò are without a doubt the two most famous filming locations for The Godfather. The reason why most of the filming locations were set in these two small Sicilian villages instead of Corleone is that the producers of the movie believed that Corleone looked a bit too modern. But Savoca and Forza d’Agrò on the other hand were still pretty much untouched by modernization.
Some of the most iconic scenes of the movies were filmed in these locations, like Al Pacino’s wedding. If you want to visit Sicily, and you are a fan of this cult classic mafia movie, then here are three places in Savoca and Forza d’Agrò that you should add to your bucket list. And even if you aren’t a fan at all, both of these medieval villages are still worth a visit. They are charming and located on high hills, which gives you a great overlook of the surrounding areas.
Bar Vitelli in Savoca
Do you want to enjoy some amazing wines while admiring the spectacular views of Sicily? Then visit Bar Vitelli. It’s located on Savoca’s main square and features a stunning outdoor terrace, perfect for admiring Italy’s stunning nature. The bar is also featured in the movie, and it’s the place where Al Pacino meets the father of his future wife, Apollonia. It’s also the place where he asked for permission to marry Apollonia.
Church of San Nicolò in Savoca
This is the location of the famous Corleone wedding. Al Pacino married his Sicilian wife, Apollonia, in the Church of San Nicolò in Savoca. You can see the church in the background of the wedding scene. It’s closely located to Bar Vitelli, and you can get from one location to the other easily by foot. This 15th-century building overlooks the Ionian Sea, and you will get some showstopping views of Sicily from it.
The church of the Santissima Annunziata in Forza d’Agrò
If you ever find yourself in Forza d’Agrò, make sure to visit the church of the Santissima Annunziata. Just like the Church of San Nicolò, the Chiesa Madre (mother church) of Forza d’Agrò was originally built in the 15th century. However, it will be reconstructed at the beginning of the 18th century. This is an impressive Baroque-style building that was also used as a filming location in one of The Godfather movies.