For any diehard fan of the famous Godfather trilogy (and let’s face it, who isn’t), a chance to tour the home of the Godfather characters stands high on any bucket list. A story inspired by real-life events and the impact that the Sicilian mafia had on so many lives, many variations of the this sort of tour have popped up since the films’ release.
Medieval castles, picturesque coastal villages and the scenic Sicilian countryside serve as the backdrop to many of the Godfather film scenes, making it the ideal place for movie buffs to embark on a Godfather tour of Sicily.
Any Godfather tour in Catania includes some of Sicily’s most heart-stopping locations, so even if you’re not a Godfather fan, it would still be an excellent excuse to explore some enchanting Sicilian hilltop towns. In fact, it would be an offer you can’t refuse.
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Overview
On any private Godfather tour in Sicily, you’ll learn all about how fact and fiction collide, visiting the real-life Godfather Sicily filming locations from some of the most iconic scenes in the trilogy. These movie set spots vary from a Godfather tour in Taormina, the province of Messina or Palermo.
Walk in the footsteps of Michael Corleone and discover the gorgeous medieval villages of Savoca and Fiume Freddo to set the scene. Drink a lemon granita in the famous Bar Vitelli and relive the famous wedding scene in the Cathedral of Forza d’Agrò. These are all important locations in any iconic Godfather tour.
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Highlights of a Sicily Godfather Tour
Medieval beauty, iconic landscapes and so much more await you. On a typical Godfather Tour you’ll:
- Visit some of the most captivating Godfather Sicily filming locations
- Learn about the story, plot and characters behind each spot
- Enjoy beautiful Sicilian hill towns such as Forza d’Agrò and Savoca, two of the main places where Francis Coppola shot Godfather scenes in Sicily
- Indulge in a drink in the famous Bar Vitelli
- Take in breathtaking Mediterranean architecture in Taormina
- See the notorious house where Vito Corleone was born
- Delve into the history of Sicily and the origins of the Sicilian Mafia
What’s Included
At Designer Journeys, we understand that not everyone likes to travel in the same way. Many of our Godfather tours will include similar elements, but you can also fully tailor this to your own taste to make it the best Godfather tour in Sicily in your eyes! Take some inspiration from this 10-day trip to Sicily that includes:
- Private transport to all of the Godfather Sicily scene locations
- Visits to Taormina, Corleone, Savoca and Forza d’Agrò
- Accommodation in Sicily
- A Sicilian guide that is well versed in the Godfather movies and their relation to the island
- Stopovers in other beautiful Sicilian destinations such as Palermo, Mount Etna and Agrigento
- Entrance fees when required
- Meals
Departure Location and Time
Since Francis Ford Coppola’s films have become somewhat of a cult classic, the variation of Godfather tours in Sicily and where they all depart from can be overwhelming: whether that be a Godfather tour from Palermo, a hop on hop off Godfather Tour in Taormina or a Palermo Godfather tour, the options are endless!
As Sicily is a relatively small island, most Godfather tours will visit many of the same locations, all of which are walking distance or a short drive away, so you won’t miss out on any of the key film locations when travelling to Italy.
To give you an idea of what a Godfather tour can look like, this 10 day trip to Sicily includes a Sicily Godfather day tour which departs from Taormina at 10:30 am where you will visit some of the most iconic film locations in Savoca and Forza d’Agrò. Depending on where you are staying in Sicily, you can choose a different departure location or starting time for your private Godfather tour – the choice is yours!
Duration
Many of these tours range from three to four hours. However, another alternative is dedicating a whole holiday to visiting the Godfather movie set locations and Sicilian towns that feature in the films. This 6-Day Godfather Trip to Sicily encompasses a Godfather tour from Catania and visits the towns of Palermo, Taormina and Fiume Freddo, where you will be able to breathe life into the trilogy’s most memorable scenes.
Sicily Godfather Tour Travel Itinerary
Taormina
As nearly all of the Sicily scenes in The Godfather were filmed within 15 miles from this coastal village, a Taormina Italy Godfather tour is undoubtedly a must-do when visiting the island. In recent years, the relation between Taormina and The Godfather has transformed it into somewhat of a resort town, with film buffs flocking to the area to recollect their favourite scenes. Despite its increasing popularity, it is a fantastic starting point to reach nearby villages where much of the trilogy was filmed, such as Savoca and Forza d’Agró.
Savoca
Many of the best Godfather tours from Taormina will choose Savoca as their first stop, an unspoiled town just north of Taormina that stood in for Corleone, which was too developed at the time to depict a 1940s Sicily. When you approach Savoca, you may recall the scene where Michael and his two companions are walking in the hills and see this quaint village in the distance.
Of course, a Savoca Godfather tour wouldn’t be complete without sipping on a lemon granita in the iconic Bar Vitelli, where Micheal asks for Signore Vitelli’s daughter’s hand in marriage and threatens him with an untimely death in the same breath. Eagle-eyed cinephiles will also connect the church of Santa Lucia with the emblematic wedding between Michael and Apollonia.
Forza D’Agró
Many Godfather tours in Messina will then continue to Forza D’Agró, another gorgeous Sicilian hilltop town with more Godfather connections. If you haven’t seen the films in a while, think tiny charming lanes and historic churches that are just as cinematic in real life as they are on screen.
In front of Forza d’Agró’s cream-coloured cathedral is where a young Vito Corleone escaped to America by hiding in a mule’s pack, in hot pursuit by Don Ciccio’s men. It is also where the older Michael, played by Al Pacino, shows his American wife the Corleone family house (which we now know is actually on the other side of the island).
Fiume Freddo
Although many flock to the bigger Godfather movie towns, this Godfather tour from Catania also includes a visit to the lesser-known village of Fiume Freddo, where the newlywed Corleone couple lived and the tragic death of Apollonia occurred. The splendid Castello Degli Schiavi here was popularised because of the movies but is a delightful sight to visit in its own right too.
Castelmola
A small medieval village just above Taormina, Castelmola is a stone’s throw away from other popular Sicily Godfather locations, which is why many Godfather tours in Sicily will be sure to make a stop here. Built around the ruins of Norman castles, this old hamlet offers visitors winding streets, aristocratic buildings and an enchanting ancient atmosphere.
So, Ready to Embark?
For those looking for a truly memorable experience in Sicily, it doesn’t get more unique than a this. It also helps that the Sicilian countryside and its coastal towns are spectacularly gorgeous, with or without Marlon Brando in them.
The best Sicily Godfather tours will be accompanied by enthusiastic Sicilian guides that will be eager to tell you the tales behind one of the greatest films of all time, as well as the equally captivating history of the island that inspired it.
With a plethora of incredible Sicily Tours you can choose from, one of Designer Journeys’s expert Local Designers will be on hand to help you in customising your trip to Italy and deciding which Godfather tour in Sicily is the best fit for you.
With the Local Designers taking out all of the legwork in planning your trip, all you have to do is hop on a plane, bring your camera and start remembering your favourite Godfather movie lines!
