If you have seen The Godfather, you know this place pictured. No, it’s not Corleone (That’s on the other side of Sicily, in Palermo province.). It is Savoca, Province of Messina, a beautiful small town that acted as the “set” (i.e., playing the part of Corleone) for the introduction and wedding of Michael Corleone and his beautiful Sicilian bride, Apallonia. The bar where Michael meets his future father-in-law, Bar Vitelli, is also in Savoca.
Savoca is breathtaking. It’s a city of art. Sculptures and paintings and ceramic illustrations are everywhere you look. We had out-of-this-world sesame cookies at the local panificio (bakery). And, we relished the curves up the mountain to get there… All to enjoy the splendid views. Today, the weather was magnificent. The sky so clear, you could easily see Calabria, across the Straight of Messina.
The villa where the newlywed Corleone couple lived, and where Apollonia tragically died, is in the nearby town of Fiumefreddo. The baronial country house is closed to the public, but if you know a guy, you can, with an appointment and for a donation, visit the grounds and go inside.
Please remember to be respectful of these places. The people who live and work there are proud to have their towns in a famous movie, but not so proud of organized crime (a theme behind all of this attention) and how it ravages their livelihoods.