Rated among the most beautiful ‘borghi’ (historic villages) of Italy, Savoca in Sicily isn’t overrun with tourists, which has helped maintain a relaxed atmosphere and a slow pace from earlier times. mPositioned on a rocky hill, with views over citrus and olive groves and vineyards, this small medieval town is best explored by wandering its narrow streets, flanked by historic buildings, catching views that reach as far as the Gulf of Taormina.

What attracts most visitors to Savoca is to retrace the locations of a legendary movie that was shot in part here: Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. It is in Savoca that the scenes set in Corleone involving the young Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, were filmed. Bar Vitelli, at the entrance to town, is where the scene of the meeting between Michael Corleone and the father of his future wife (the owner of the café) was shot. Bar Vitelli is still in business. The Church of San Nicolò is where the wedding between Michael and Apollonia was officiated.