Bar Vitelli in Savoca - the Sicilian Bar from "The Godfather" Movie

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Bar Vitelli is world famous for appearing in The Godfather movie.  The bar is set in a stunning Savoca village, located east of Palermo, in Sicily.

 

Bar Vitelli's Location

• Bar Vitelli is set in a stunning hilltop medieval village of Savoca in Sicily. The village is perched high above on the hill overlooking the Ionian Sea.
• Bar Vitelli is housed in an 18th century Palazzo Trimarchi, located in the Piazza Fossia, the town's main square. The bar features an outdoor vine-covered terrace from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the areas surrounding Savoca.
• Bar Vitelli's physical address: Piazza Fossia, 7, 98038 Savoca ME, Italy.

Bar Vitelli in The Godfather Movie

Even though The Godfather movie is set in Corleone, a town in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the filming actually took place in other locations. The town of Corleone looked too modern, so Francis Ford Coppola chose other small Sicilian villages that were still untouched by modernization.  The Godfather's Sicily locations included the villages of Savoca and Forza d'Agro.

Bar Vitelli was the filming location of several scenes from the first Godfather movie by Francis Ford Coppola.  Michael Corleone fled New York City after starting a mafia war between Italian mob families there. He arrives in Sicily to take refuge.  He falls in love with a Sicilian woman, Apollonia Vitelli.  The Bar Vitelli is where Michael Corleone ( Al Pacino) meets the cafe owner, the father of his future wife Apollonia.    The Bar Vitelli is also the place where Michael Corleone asks Apollonia's father for his permission to marry his daughter.

Why Visit Bar Vitelli

• First of all, if you are The Godfather movie's fan, Bar Vitelli IS THE PLACE where several important scenes of the movie were filmed.  This includes the scene where Michael Corleone meets the owner of the bar, the father of his future bride, and also the scene where Michael asks Apollonia's father's permission to marry her.
• Second, the bar is set in a stunning location from where you can enjoy great views of the areas surrounding Savoca. What's surprising is that neither the town of Savoca nor the bar is overrun by tourists.
• Finally, the whole area and the restaurant have a great, serene atmosphere! The bar has excellent food, and it's a great place to sit back, relax and enjoy the views of Savoca.

Quick Facts About Savoca

• Savoca is a hilltop medieval village perched on a hill overlooking the Ionian coast in Sicily.
• Savoca's elevation is 300 meters above sea level.
• Savoca is included as one of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages (I borghi più belli d'Italia).

Bar Vitelli's Exterior

• Bar Vitelli is housed in an 18th century Palazzo Trimarchi, located in the Piazza Fossia, the town's main square, near the Town Hall.
• Palazzo Trimarchi is an 18th century 2-story palace with a basement.  It was built in a Sicilian Neoclassical style.  The palace was built by the Trimarchi family, a wealthy noble Sicilian family.
• The ground floor of the palace is currently occupied by Bar Vitelli - a famous bar filmed in The Godfather movie.

Bar Vitelli's Interior

Inside the bar, you'll find The Godfather movie memorabilia.

The food at Bar Vitelli

The restaurant has a wonderful atmosphere! The food is delicious, and the Bar Vitelli is a great place to sit back, relax, enjoy the views, food, and wine!

Another Godfather Movie Location - Church of San Nicolò

The Church of San Nicolò was used as a filming location for the Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather movie. It is in this church that Michael Corleone and Apollonia got married. The church is only a short walk from Bar Vitelli.

Interesting Sights and Landmarks Nearby

While the bar is certainly an interesting place to explore, the village of Savoca has a rich historic and cultural heritage and is certainly worth the visit.

• Churches. The notable churches in Savoca include Church of San Nicolò, Church of San Michele, and Church of Santa Maria in Cielo Assunta or Chiesa Madre (the mother church of Savoca).
• Palaces. Savoca is also home to several historical palaces, including Palazzo Salvadore (the 17th-century palace in excellent condition) and Palazzo Scarcella (a 17th-century palace, partially ruined).
• Notable Architecture. Other interesting sights near Bar Vitelli include the City Gate to Savoca (dating back to the 12th century), the ruins of the Castle of Pentefur, the convent and the church of the Capuchins.