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

    Published: May 28, 2019 / 8 Comments

    293 shares
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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, Savoca, 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 from "The Godfather" movie

    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.

    Bar Vitelli from "The Godfather" movie

    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 from "The Godfather" movie

    Bar Vitelli's Interior

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

    Interior of Bar Vitelli from "The Godfather" movie

    Interior of Bar Vitelli from "The Godfather" movie

    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!

    Food at Bar Vitelli, Savoca, Sicily

    Food at Bar Vitelli, Savoca, Sicily

    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.
    « 10 Best Things To Do in Modica, Sicily
    Church of San Nicolò in Savoca - the Sicilian Church from "The Godfather" Movie »
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    Please share your comment and Star Rating in the comments section below.

    I appreciate your feedback!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marilyn Holland

      November 23, 2021 at 3:43 am

      My Son is getting married at The Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina next July. We will be there for the week and we can’t wait to visit Savoca while we’re there.

      Reply
      • Julia

        November 24, 2021 at 7:10 pm

        Marilyn, you are so lucky that your son is getting married in such a beautiful area! You will enjoy it immensely! It's been several years now since I've been to Sicily, and I would love to go back - great memories!

        Reply
    2. MAUREEN ROBINSON

      July 30, 2021 at 9:50 am

      Beautiful. They should have tours there. I am planning on taking my family their and to Salina where my father was born within the next 2 years. If you here of a nice tour of Sicily; Please let me know.

      Reply
      • Julia

        August 13, 2021 at 8:45 pm

        Enjoy your trip - Sicily is so beautiful, especially smaller towns like Savoca.

        Reply
      • Josie

        October 19, 2022 at 8:51 am

        They do have tours. Look up Godfather tour Savoca.

        Reply
        • Julia

          October 28, 2022 at 7:21 pm

          Josie, you're right. I think I've seen a group on a tour there. But Savoca is so small, we did not even need a tour. I wrote these articles about Savoca and other related Godfather locations that you might find interesting:

          https://juliasalbum.com/savoca-sicily/

          https://juliasalbum.com/church-of-san-nicolo-in-savoca/

          https://juliasalbum.com/filming-locations-the-godfather-sicily/

          https://juliasalbum.com/forza-dagro-sicily/

          Reply
    3. Tauri

      February 21, 2021 at 9:07 pm

      Nice blog. One day., my husband and I will go there.

      Reply
    4. Sharon Shearouse

      December 22, 2020 at 10:23 pm

      Love to read your blog..

      Reply

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