The Godfather: The Sicilian connection
Sleeping with the fish!
Avid followers of the 'The Godfather' films based on the Mario Puzo's book,
masterfully directed by Francis Ford Coppola are in for a real treat. Many
of the actual film locations are within easy reach of Taormina
on the Eastern side of Sicily.
The
Mafia Connection...
Corleone is set in the island’s hilly interior, south of
Palermo. Not only does the central character,
Don Corleone (played by Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro) take his name
from the town, but it is also the surname of Sicily's most feared mafia
family. Unfortunately for the town the filmmakers felt Corleone was too
developed to be used as a location. None the less, the town has strong historical
links with the mafia - it was the scene of 153 violent deaths between 1944
and 1948. It has been home to some of the mafia's most notorious leaders
for many years, including Salvatore Riina, who was finally arrested in 1993
and charged with being responsible for more than 150 murders.
Enough
of the real life, now back to the fiction!
Savoca a pretty hillside village at the end of a steep, winding drive on
the east side of the island, near to Taormina.
You may remember this tranquil medieval spot as the setting for the courtship
and wedding between Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) and his first wife, Apollonia
(Simonetta Stefanelli), an actress who actually came from the village of
Savoca.
Visit the Bar Vitelli...
Just as you enter the village you will see the Bar Vitelli, where Michael
discusses his proposed marriage to Apollonia with her father, the owner
of the bar, aptly named Vitelli in the film. It is a pretty, 18th-century
stone-flagged building, draped in climbing plants with a vine-covered terrace
looking out over a deep valley. Much is as in the movie, even down to the
curtains over the door. Inside, the partially panelled bar has a small display
of photos, press cuttings and mementos from the making of the film.
Featured Churches...
Not far from Savoca is the charming hilltop village of Forza d’Agro.
The church of Sant’Agostino features in the second film, in the scene
where Vito escapes to the US hotly pursued by Don Ciccio’s men. Some
scenes from the The Godfather Part III were also shot here. Reached via
a twisting corkscrew road from the coast, Forza d’Agro is dominated
by a 16th-century castle overlooking the coast towards Messina
and the strait and is easily reached from Taormina.
As well as a couple of decrepit churches and some eerily derelict cottages,
there are just a couple of bars and a small restaurant.
Castle of the slaves...
About 15 minutes from Taormina is a really
lovely place to see, the Castello Degli Schiavi (Castle of the Slaves) at
Fuimefreddo. It is said to be built over the site of an ancient Roman Villa.
A
brutal revenge...
This beautiful looking residence (left) was built in 1700 as a country house
for the Nobility.
The house was location for several scenes throughout the Godfather films including the un-intentional murder of Apollonia in The Godfather and also the brutal revenge killing of Don Ciccio, by Vito Corleone in Godfather part II.
A
capital influence...
About two hours away is Sicily’s capital, Palermo
which was another source of inspiration for the film.
The city’s huge, heavily gilded, late-19th-century theatre, the Teatro
Massimo, features in The Godfather Part III when Michael’s son Anthony
Corleone makes his debut in the lengthy but gripping opera scene.
Tours
of the theatre are available in English -
Tues-Sun - Every 30 minutes between 10am-3.30pm
Once you have visited and experienced the presence of these memorable film locations, you will no doubt be eager to sit through the Trilogy for hours, waiting for the bit to say "I’ve been there!". You can even buy the t-shirt!
If you have any queries, our FAQ page may have the answer that you are looking for. We also welcome you to send us an email, or if you prefer, you can give us a call. All our contact information is available on our contact us page.
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