Hello,
Wondering how to get from Catania to Savoca roundtrip using public transportation- looking to go first two weeks in Dec- want to visit Bar Vitelli from The Godfather movie- can you do it on your own or is it better to book a tour?
Thanks
Posted by
Chicago
1949 posts
This was back in October 2010, but we booked a private daytrip through Sicily Life from Taormina. It was called 'The Godfather Tour' (I know, kinda cheesy) but it was really great, and I think they still do it, although I don't know if from Catania. And I think it would be difficult if not impossible to do it by public trans.
We met at the appointed spot in Taormina at about 10AM, we were picked up and driven to the medieval villages of Castelmola, Forza D'Agro and then Savoca, where we saw Bar Vitelli and actually had a granita made by the same machine that reportedly Francis Ford Coppola wanted to buy in 1972 from the owners.
Other movie sites in the Sicilian parts of Godfather I & II were also shot in Forza D'Agro & Castelmola, which is famous for Bar Turrisi, where most everything is in the shape of a phallic symbol! Finally, outside Savoca (I believe) are some catacombs where--listen to this--the town officials for the last 200 years are mummified, dressed up, painted and propped up in little alcoves in the catacombs. On a foggy October day, it was one of the most bizarre and creepy things I've ever experienced.
Enjoy your planning!
Posted by
Washington DC
27138 posts
You can get to Santa Teresa di Riva by train. That's about 4 miles from Savoca. Check the train schedule on the Trenitalia website. I don't know whether there's a bus to get you the rest of the way; Rome2Rio.com suggests a taxi, but there are occasionally buses Rome2Rio doesn't know about.