The Godfather Part II, (Dir: Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)

Taormina, Sicily, Italy

The Godfather Part II was the first sequel to win an Oscar and because of that I have included it’s locations here without worrying that I haven’t included those of the first film. Of course the New York locations are great, lots of location staples like Vazak‘s Bar, 108 Avenue B, East Village, where the Rosato brothers attack Pentageli. This bar was also used in ‘Crocodile Dundee’ (it’s where Mick picks up the guy in drag), ‘Rent’ and by Mickey Rourke as Harry Angel in ‘Angel Heart’ (that’s an old one, it’s a supernatural who dunnit.). New York’s oldest coffee house, Caffe Reggio in Greenwich Village, and Tomkins Square are also recognisable New York locations. But the main location for me is Corleone, which is a real town in Sicily, but filmed in nearby Taormina, which is smaller and more rustic looking. Though I went to Taormina on a filgrimage (film pilgrimage), I had convinced my travelling companion that it’s a nice place to holiday, which it is - just like in the film there was golden sunshine, traditional looking architecture and fields and mountains to wander. It’s built in a gully at the base or a mountain and has got a castle, a greek amphitheatre and good beaches and some interesting ruins. The story of the Mafia is fascinating and if you go to Sicily read up on it before hand to get an idea of what Takes place where.

The Dominican Republic was used for Cuba and the town of Trieste in northern Italy was used to shoot Ellis Island.

Written by  Film Fan.

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Uh... I don't think you really went to Sicily. Because I was there, and the location for the Corleone shots were done in Savoca, a town 20 minutes north of Taormina. It's not at the base of a mountain, but about 800 feet up a switch back road. I have photos of me sitting at Bar Vitelli, where Michael meets Appolonia's father...in Savoca.

 

Comment posted 20th August 2009 by John Cangemi.

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