Savoca and Forza d'Agrò. The sets of the Godfather

We are in 1971, the year in which the American director Francis Ford Coppola shot one of his most famous films: The Godfather. The scenes set in Corleone were filmed in towns in Sicily, including Savoca and Forza d'Agrò, hilltop villages in the province of Messina. How can we forget, for example, the famous “ Bar Vitelli ”, which was shot in front of the entrance door of Palazzo Trimachi, today one of the most famous attractions in Savoca? A stop here to taste an excellent lemon granita and admire the photos of the film hanging on the walls is a must.

However, the Savocese territory deserves to be discovered for many other reasons, not only for being the setting for the Godfather. For example, it is worth stopping here to admire the treasures it holds inside, such as the medieval synagogue which was transformed into a residence in 1470. The Museum is also worth a visit, for a taste of local history and traditions, and the church of San Nicola di Bari, the location of one of the most famous moments of his film: the marriage between Apollonia and Michael Corleone. The village of Forza d'Agrò is also of medieval origin, with a suggestive viewpoint that embraces the coast and from which you can admire Messina, Syracuse, Taormina, Giardini Naxos and Etna. Of great value is the ancient manor, which stands in the heart of the city and preserves the guardhouse and fortified walls, the Cathedral of the Santissima Annunziata, the church of the Triade, with a spectacular arch, and the convent of the Augustinians. Here, in particular, it will be possible to visit the catacombs, where the mummies of some noble characters who spent their lives in Forza d'Agrò are kept.

Leaving the center, you will come across old farmhouses and the Rocche a Scala, ancient refuges shaped by nature. In Savoca and Forza d'Agrò a traveler will literally feel projected into another dimension.