Godfather Filming Locations Tour Savoca & Forza d'Agrò from Catania

Savoca, the Godfather village

Savoca is a medieval village perched on two ridges of the Peloritani mountains, high above the Ionian coast between Catania and Messina. Its narrow lanes, stone houses, ruined castle and churches look much as they did centuries ago, which is why film crews chose it to represent a traditional Sicilian village in The Godfather in the early 1970s. Today it is one of the most visited film locations in Italy, yet it keeps the calm of a small mountain community.

On this Godfather tour from Catania you spend about 1.5 hours in Savoca with your guide, who compares the film scenes with the places you see and tells the history of the village beyond the cinema. The views from the upper lanes over the valleys and the sea are among the finest in this corner of Sicily.

Church of San Nicolò and the wedding scene

At the edge of the village, on a rocky spur, stands the Church of San Nicolò, also called the Church of Santa Lucia. With its fortress-like stone walls and simple façade, it is the church where the wedding of the hero and his Sicilian bride was filmed in the first Godfather film. The procession then walked through the lanes of the village, which you can follow on foot.

Your guide shows you the exact spots from the film and explains the real history of the church, which dates back to the Middle Ages and was rebuilt after earthquakes. Even if you have not seen the films, the church and its terrace with sweeping views over the hills are a beautiful stop and a favourite for photos.

The old café of Savoca

In the village centre, an old café in a historic stone building became famous as the place where the hero asks the bride's father for permission to marry her. The café still welcomes visitors with its old furniture, photographs from the filming and a terrace shaded by vines, and it is a classic stop on every Savoca tour.

Here you have time to sit and try a Sicilian lemon granita, a refreshing crushed-ice speciality, or another soft drink; food and drinks are not included, so you pay for what you choose. The terrace looks over the lanes of Savoca and is a pleasant place to rest before continuing to the next village.

Forza d'Agrò, medieval village above the sea

Forza d'Agrò is another beautifully preserved medieval village, clinging to a hill above the cape of Sant'Alessio with views along the coast towards Taormina. Its stone lanes, arches and staircases were used in The Godfather Part II and Part III, where the village stood in for Corleone, the family's town of origin in the story.

With your guide you visit the square in front of the cathedral, whose broad stone staircase appears in the films, and walk through the narrow streets towards the ruins of the Norman castle at the top of the village. Allow about 1.5 hours here: it is quieter than Savoca and wonderful for photography, especially in the soft light of the afternoon.

Castello degli Schiavi and the Ionian coast

When available, the tour can include a stop at Castello degli Schiavi in Fiumefreddo di Sicilia, an 18th-century baroque villa surrounded by citrus groves that was used as the family's country house in the first film. The visit is optional, on request and subject to availability; the admission is not included and is paid on site.

On the return journey you enjoy views of the Ionian coast, the green hills and, on clear days, the slopes of Mount Etna. The day ends with drop-off at your hotel in Catania, Taormina, Giardini Naxos or Aci Castello. Is a Godfather tour in Sicily worth it? For film lovers it is a must, and for everyone else it is a relaxed way to discover two of the island's most charming villages.