Godfather tour in Savoca and Mt Etna

Godfather tour in Savoca

Savoca is a little hilltop town, typical of Sicily, in the surroundings of Taormina. The American film director Coppola set in this village several shootings and many parts of the Godfather movies. Your guide will tell you the various anecdotes and stories that got origin among the quiet streets and the fascinating old churches of these two towns, surrounded by picturesque mountains and valleys. Here, even today, on an early morning you can still see the shepherd leading his flock to the dwell in the main square. Local people are quite friendly and, if gently approached, can maybe share with you their own individual story of when they acted as extra in the movie. A real, authentic experience in the heart of a Sicily still to be explored. Time has a different pace here, and you can take advantage of it to enjoy a visit to the church of St Lucy, where the wedding scene took place, or to taste a “granita” sitting at the outside tables in the same bar where Michael Corleone saw Apollonia for the very first time…

Monte Etna

After Savoca we drive along the eastern side of the highest volcano in continental Europe, crossing vineyards and many lava stone villages to reach an elevation of about 6.500 feet above sea level. Here you can walk around the border of extinct Crateri Silvestri before making our way back to Taormina.

Savoca
Savoca is a lovely medieval village twenty miles away from Taormina.
The village was founded during the Norman time and its churches of St Lucy, Michael and Maria show well evidence of a blend of medieval, renaissance and baroque influences.
The town sits on a mountain, like a saddle on its horse and it is a place which still today shows timeless atmospheres. The most remarkable attraction in the town is certainly the location and the drive along the road to get there.
The Capuchin church and the crypt with the mummified bodies of the notary, the barons and the abbots reveals the rich standard of life of the town in the past as well the incredible knowledge and skills got to preserve the bodies till today.
The town was totally unknown to many until forty years ago when the movie Godfather was set here in the very late sixties; shootings were done anywhere in town and especially by the little bar Vitelli on the main square.
The idea to feel like Apollonia or Michael Corleone sitting here calls many tourists from Taormina, while the vicinity of other small villages makes unique a combined visit following the footsteps of the Godfather.

Etna
Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe. Its elevation is roughly 3350 meters and it actually changes often due to any new baby volcano arising on top. The wide variety of the many known phenomena connected to volcanism makes it a living laboratory and a sort of school for geologists and volcanologists coming from worldwide. The volcano is also one of the seven world heritage sites of Sicily, the first natural park and protected area created in Sicily since 1987 and the largest since it covers almost one twentieth of the total extension of the island.
The Etna National Park is divided in two main areas. The lower part charachterized by human activities, villages, fields and vineyards while the upper part has flora and fauna which do not compete with any human beeing activity.
Chestnut trees, larches, firs, Oaks, poplars, beaches and endemic shrubs that grow on the bare lava rock are the most notable elements of local flora, while the fauna has foxes, wild boars, snakes, hedgehogs and sky hawks, owls and nocturnal animals and even the golden sea eagle.
Botanists say that about 70% of the species in the Mediterranean live on the slopes of Mt Etna thanks to the latitude of the volcano and to the different climatic areas, about seven, ranging from subarctic to subtropical, from summer to winter, from the bottom to the top.
Perhaps the real surprising value of ascending the slopes of this volcano is the drive up and down along its sides: South coming from Catania, eastward from the Ionian riviera and North side of the medieval city of Randazzo along Linguaglossa.
When you cross the many typical villages of Etna you share the simple life of peasants on street corners still selling products which are cultivated here all year round that also characterize different types of Mediterranean flora: olive trees, figs, fruit trees (apples, peaches, pears), prickly pears, oranges and lemons. The grapes here produced in its best variety is called Nerello Mascalese small, rich and juicy.
Any product cultivated here is enriched by the nutritious of the volcanic sand, highly productive natural fertilizers that make this land very fertile and really blessed. The proximity of the sea and salt moisture brought by the salt water, the typical volcanic soils, exposure of the vineyards combined all together make one of the best red wines of Etna in Sicily and give high credit to quality constantly increasing from year to year in Italy.
Although the territory was characterized in the past by several volcanic eruptions as witnessed by about 135 historical eruptions, the inhabitants always get benefits from a volcano they consider good natured and often associated with the most reassuring female figure of a mother, reason why local people give it the nickname of Mama Etna today.
Most of the eruptions that occur often flow into a large natural Valley called valle del bove (for its arched shape resembling the horns of a cow) which does not concern the local population.
The history and economy of Catania have always been connected in a close inseparable relationship with Mama Etna or Muntagna or even Idda (simply She…) to describe the female character of the volcano which makes fertile flat lands and provides extensive neighboring abundant stone to rebuild the places covered by lava flows.
The volcano is one of the few in the world that allows you to ski in the morning and possibly an afternoon at sea in spring or early fall . The Summit of the volcano has two different sides exploited by touristic activities: south and north. The southern side offers views of Catania and his plain, but also the possibility of travel by funicular railway and continue by Jeep 4 x 4 wheels up to a maximum height of 2800 meters.
The southern side receives most of the tourists since it offers more facilities with shops and restaurants.
The northern slope is less known by tourists. Here you can combine a visit to the delightful and authentic medieval village of Randazzo and a scenic drive through an old wood of centenary forest of pines which is unique in Europe. Beyond the forest lies the lunar landscape and overwhelming 2004 eruption lava fields where you see huge pines surfacing as broken pencils from the black lava sea that seems to still move around.
The entire circumference of the volcano is crossed halfway up by a narrow railroad track that connects and passes through cultivated fields and all the villages area of a full circle around Etna. In a few hours, departing from Catania, the train ferrovia circumetnea railway completes a tour offering breathtaking views and the exclusive meeting with locals, simple farmers or young students.

• Private Sedan car or Mercedes Viano up to seven seats
• Private driver speaking your language
• Fuel, motorway toll and parking fee
• Half day service with private driver and car UP TO 4 HOURS
• Full day service with private car and driver UP TO 8 HOURS
• Water bottle onboard
• Visits, stops and panoramic driving tours described on the itinerary

     NOT INCLUDED:

• Archeological sites, monuments and churches entrance fees
• Local products and wine tasting or culinary experiences unless included
• Driver and local guides gratuities (we suggest 10% if services meets or exceeds your expectations)

• Local Sicilian regional licensed guide
• Alpine guide
• Meals, wine tasting or culinary experiences if not already included in the itinerary
• Yachts, helicopter or private plane rental linked to our ground transportation service

–