Savoca and the Godfather

The Godfather was shot (not literally! ) way back in 1972, but because of its cult status there is still much interest in the locations used. The film is ranked second greatest American film ever by the American Film Institute.

New York was the backdrop for most of the movie but the Sicilian scenes were actually filmed in Sicily. The action in Sicily is meant to be in Corleone, the Godfather’s family’s home town, but even in the early 70’s, Corleone was too developed to be used for filming. They came up with the village of Savoca as a substitute for the right atmosphere of Corleone in the late 1940’s.  

Savoca is about four miles from the campsite, and a pleasant run in the car. It’s an old village rambling around a hilltop with a ruined castle on top. Part of it looks quite precarious, but is very scenic. 

Now some film sets: Vitelli’s bar, and then the wedding church.

The bar was closed for renovation, but the church was open. A pretty church but nothing like the ornate extravaganzas we’ve seen in Palermo and elsewhere. The chandelier looks like some sort of monster spider ready to drop on anyone sneaking out without leaving an offering. Well, we would have done anyway.

The church housed an appealing figure depicting, presumably, St Francis with a small pig. This is a saint truly in touch with ordinary life, a refreshing counter-balance to the angels and seraphs that account for most of the statues and illustrations in religious buildings.

We enjoyed Savoca for its own sake, independently of its film star status. It wasn’t even all that touristy; I expected shops selling Don Corleone masks, Offer You Can’t Refuse bargain stores, or perhaps a Cosa Nostra Café.