Film · 1972 · Crime · Drama
Where was The Godfather filmed?
An ageing crime patriarch hands his empire to a reluctant son in cinema's defining gangster saga. Michael's Sicilian exile was shot in the hill village of Savoca, where the bar and church from the film still stand.
2 locations across 1 destinations
At a glance
- Format
- Film
- Period
- 1972
- Filming spots
- 2
- Destinations
- 1
- Countries
- Italy
On screen
Watch the official trailer
This loads a third-party widget that may set cookies.
Official trailer via YouTube, see the real locations as they appear on screen.
Eugenio Nicola Scarcella · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Filming The Godfather: locations and how to visit
Endlessly quoted and studied, this towering crime saga lingers in the memory as much for its hushed Sicilian interlude as for its New York drama. That brief escape to the old country gives fans a rare, intimate corner of the film to seek out in person, far from any back lot.
The Sicilian scenes were shot in Savoca, a tiny hill village in the island's north-east. Bar Vitelli, the village cafe where the story's quiet courtship unfolds, still stands and still trades, while the little hilltop Chiesa di San Nicolò is the church used for the film's memorable wedding.
Savoca makes a characterful day trip from the resort town of Taormina, a short drive away, and pairs naturally with the wider draws of eastern Sicily, from Mount Etna to the coast. Go early or late in the day to enjoy the village without the tour crowds, lingering over a granita at the bar much as the film's characters once did.
Savoca, Italy
2 spotsBar Vitelli
This village bar is where Michael Corleone asks a wary father for permission to court his daughter Apollonia.
Chiesa di San Nicolò
The little hilltop church is where Michael and Apollonia marry in the film's Sicilian interlude.
Where to stay
Hotels near Savoca
This loads a third-party widget that may set cookies.
Same hotels, same prices, Stay22 just sends you to whichever site is cheapest today, and we earn a small commission if you book.
Make a day of it
Tours, tickets & getting there
Affiliate links, booking through them supports the site at no extra cost to you.
More to watch and visit
Good to know
- Where was The Godfather filmed?
- The Godfather was filmed in Savoca.
- Can you visit the The Godfather filming locations?
- Yes, these are real, visitable places. Each location below comes with the scene, an exact point on the map, and how to get there.
- How many filming locations does The Godfather have?
- We map 2 real filming locations for {name}, across 1 destinations: Savoca.
- Which countries was The Godfather filmed in?
- {name} was filmed in Italy.