Bar Vitelli Sicily is surely the main tourist attraction in Savoca Sicily for those who love The Godfather saga. The name of Savoca, one of the characteristic towns in Sicily Italy, is due to the elder, the plant -whose name in Sicilian dialect is Savucu– that characterizes the entire surrounding hinterland. We are in the province of Messina, where the Sicilian landscape is a chase of large rural areas rich in citrus groves, vineyards, olive groves, orchards and almond trees. Here, from a large rocky hill, this tiny and charming town of art rises, in the circuit of the most beautiful towns in Sicily Italy.
Bar Vitelli Sicily: the set of the Godfather Sicily scene
Bar Vitelli Sicily was made immortal when in 1972 Francis Ford Coppola chose Savoca as film set for The Godfather movie. Until that time the bar had no name and was named “Vitelli” on that occasion. Inside and outside the bar Vitelli Sicily it is possible to relive the exact atmosphere of that summer afternoon of the 70s, made famous by the world’s great cinematography: exploring the Godfaher Sicily scene locations, walking through the medieval lanes of Savoca, you can have the feeling of meeting the characters of the blockbuster, so much is the magnetism infused by the movie.
Michael Corleone run away from New York and finds refuge in his father’s hometown in Sicily. Here we see the Godfather Sicily scene where Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) is enchanted by the beauty of Apollonia (Simonetta Stefanelli), a Sicilian girl who barely looks at him, and with whom Michael felt sincerely in love at first sight. Then he arrives at the Bar Vitelli Sicily and meets Mr. Vitelli, father of Apollonia. After having experienced the jalousy of a typical Sicilian father wanting to protect his beautiful daughter, wasting no time, Michael asked him for her hand.
Bar Vitelli Sicily is located at the entrance of Savoca, in Piazza Fossìa. The eighteenth-century Palazzo Trimarchi still reveals the sign of the famous bar where Michael Corleone spoke with the father of his future wife Apollonia Vitelli. The noble palace of the Trimarchi family is in neoclassical Sicilian style and was renovated in 1773 as shown by a date carved on the keystone of the entrance portal. Despite the important historical and architectural interest of the building, what has made it famous is the bar Vitelli Sicily, with its interior full of antique objects and pictures of the cinema set that make it a small museum.
Every year the town of Savoca and the Bar Vitelli Sicily attract thousands of American visitors, who choose thematic tours dedicated to the movie, such as the Godfather Tour, that include a guided tour of the towns of Savoca and Forza D’Agrò: with a professional tour guide, guests will enjoy a walking in the medieval lanes, visiting the most ancient buildings and, of course, a refreshing drink at Bar Vitelli Sicily.
Sometimes visitors may prefer also a tour of Savoca and Taormina, combining together a visit of two main highlights of Eastern Sicily tourist attractions: Savoca and the Godfather Sicily scene venues, and the charming and fancy Taormina, perfect to breahte the dolce vita atmosphere and enjoy a tour of the Greek Theatre.
In Savoca, along with the Bar Vitelli Sicily, fans of the movie will have no difficulty in recognizing also the beautiful church of S. Nicolò which was the setting for the wedding between the young Corleone and his bride Apollonia.
Savoca, one of the most beautiful towns in Sicily Italy
Savoca Sicily is not only a destination for those who want to see live the Godfather Sicily scene venues. This Sicilian village is a small concentration of surprises for anyone who decides to explore the streets that creep into the historic centre revealing an interesting interweaving of medieval atmospheres: Renaissance and Baroque buildings, rural residences of the beginning of the last century, in an exquisite succession of natural terraces reveal a landscape of great charm, just few steps away from Bar Vitelli Sicily.
Among the most sensational award-winning towns in Sicily Italy, Savoca is poised between heaven and earth, between past and present, between fiction and reality, and will conquer the hearts of visitors with its enchanting views and ancient atmosphere. The ethno-anthropologic Museum of Savoca offers a very interesting point of view on the cultural and peasant tradition: it exhibits many tools and objects of the rural life, giving particular attention to the intangible cultural heritage, such as sayings and oral tradition.
In addition, the museum keeps the original clapper board of the Godfther movie, that Francis Ford Coppola gave to his dear friend, the Baron Gianni Pennisi. It was the baron –who was also a painter- that recommended to F. F. Coppola the best Sicilian towns to shoot his movie, suggesting him two among the most characteristic and picturesque villages: Savoca and Forza D’Agrò.
If you wish to know even more about the “behind the scenes” of the set of the Godfather and experience the same feeling of “sicilianity” of the local people who fascinated actors and directors, you can have a chat with the owner of Bar Vitelli Sicily, maybe sitting at the table of the protagonist, eating a refreshing lemon granita to be tasted with the “zuccarati”, typical biscuits of the area.
Exploring the Godfather Sicily scene locations and visiting the Bar Vitelli Sicily could be the first reasons that brings so many tourists to Savoca Sicily, but once here visitors will find a tiny corner of Sicily populated by welcoming and friendly people, with so much more interesting inspirations and places to visit. Don’t hesitate to contact us! We will be happy to guide you in this surprising discovery.
