Taormina and Savoca with The Godfather

Taormina and Savoca with The Godfather Your journey starts with a scenic, comfortable ride out to Savoca, a rustic village perched 985 feet (330 meters) above sea level offering fantastic panoramic views of cultivated terraces and distant hill towns. Savoca is one of those just-being -discovered destinations that you should not pass up. Perched high on a hilltop, this is a true and authentic taste of Sicily in a most atmospheric place. The village is quiet with the ghostly remains of crumbling churches and abandoned dwellings but offers amazing rural landscape views. Recent restoration projects have begun to bring the past back to life and it is this area that Francis Ford Coppola filmed his classic The Godfather movie. Wind through ancient streets to see such gems as the Church of Saint Nicholas and Trimarchi Palace. If the sign over Bar Vitelli looks familiar, there is a good reason why: it is the same signage as seen in the film. From there you will make your way to beautiful Taormina with its charming shops and cafes lining the popular Corso Umberto. Located on the east coast of Sicily about halfway between Messina and Catania on the Ionian Sea, the town is perched on a hill about 250 meters above the sea providing incredibly scenic views from almost anywhere in the town. It also has the dubious distinction of sitting practically in the shadow of Mt. Etna, Europe's largest and most active volcano. The town is known for the Teatro Antico di Taormina, an ancient and massive 3rd century Greco-Roman theater still used today. Observe Isola Bella, a tiny island and nature reserve connected to the mainland by a narrow stretch of sand. Make your way through the narrow, picturesque streets to the historic center of the city to see notable monuments, old churches and more. Enjoy, on your way back, a short stop at the terrace between the Shrine of Christ the King and the Sanctuary of Montalto and be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Strait of Messina. Book now and get ready to experience an authentic taste of The Godfather's Italy in all its beauty, mystery and majesty.