About this tour
This 8–9 hour private tour departs Messina and explores two sides of Sicily: the clifftop resort town of Taormina with its layered history, then Savoca village, where scenes from The Godfather were filmed. You'll walk Taormina's main thoroughfare, spot Norman and Roman landmarks, learn how Greeks, Arabs and Spaniards shaped the island, visit the actual Bar Vitelli and the church where Michael married Apollonia, and finish with a proper Sicilian lunch—cured meats, local cheeses, pasta, caponata—at a family-run trattoria with wine included.
Highlights
- Corso Umberto: Taormina's bustling pedestrian heart
- Palazzo Corvaja and 2nd-century Odeon theatre
- Duomo square's layered architectural legacy
- Bar Vitelli: the real Godfather wedding-negotiation site
- Savoca church where Michael and Apollonia wed onscreen
- Sit-down lunch with Etna wines and lemon sorbet
What to expect
Your guide meets you at Messina cruise terminal and drives you up the coast to Taormina. Expect roughly 90 minutes of unhurried walking through narrow streets and piazzas; your guide contextualises each stop without rushing. You'll climb a modest slope to the Odeon and pause at the Duomo to absorb Sicily's cross-cultural layers. After coffee or a breather, you'll head south to Savoca—a compact, hillside village where you'll visit the Bar Vitelli and the small church. The final stretch is lunch: platters of prosciutto, caponata, fresh pasta norma, local cheeses, all paired with Etna wine. Return to Messina by early evening.
Good to know
Bring comfortable walking shoes and sun protection for Taormina's cobblestones. The tour is private, so timing is flexible. Minimum two people per booking. Public transport is available if you prefer to explore independently. Infants can travel in a pram; specialised car seats are provided.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.