Sicily has over a hundred tours, but only one Godfather. The island is huge. Giardini Naxos, between Cape Taormina and Cape Schisò was a quiet fishing village, but has recently become a popular seaside resort. Taormina sits in the hills and can be easily accessed by bus. Naxos was founded in 735 BC, by Greek colonists from Chalcis in Euboea. The temple of Apollo Archegetes now sits outside the city which has many churches and an archaeological park. Leontini and Catania were both colonized from here. Hippocrates, tyrant of Gela, captured Naxos in 494 BC. Its destruction in 403 BC at the hands of Dionysius the tyrant saw people move up the hill into Tauromenium. There is so much more to discover here because Sicily has been famous and popular for centuries! We show over 100 tours in Sicily which tells you there is a lot to do and see, but looking at the tours by your ship or here will show you what Sicily think is best of what they have. Giardini Naxos is near and overlooks Taormina. Messina is about one hour away by train and Italian trains are normally very good but there is much to see locally, including a number of Godfather tours, some will take you to Corleone, nicknamed the town of 100 churches. The Aurora, Oceana and Arcadia all cruise to Giardini Naxos – Click here. Fred Olsen’s Islands of the Mediterranean on the Balmoral stops there. Here is an ariel film of the coast line.MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE DESTINATIONS – MENU – CLICK HERE FOR GUIDES, TOWNS, CITIES & TOURS
GIBRALTAR CEUTA PUERTO BANUS MALAGA MONTRIL – GRANADA ALMERIA
CARTAGENA ALICANTE VALENCIA CASTELLON TARRAGONA PALAMOS
ROSES SETE TOULON MARSEILLES St RAHAEL CANNES VILLE FRANCE (NICE)
MONTE CARLO SAVONA GENOA PORTOFINO SANTA MARGHERITA RAPALLO
LA SPEZIA LIVORNO PIOMBINO ROME – CIVITAVECCHIA NAPLES
SALERNO CAPRI CORSICA SICILY SARDINIA IBIZA
See the best of the locations used in the Godfather’s three films from below.
The Godfather Tour and Castello Deli Schiavi Visit – Click here for meeting point and availability, this tour is likely to sell out)
This tour goes to the nearby beautiful medieval villages of Savoca and Forza D’Agrò where Francis Ford Coppola shot some parts of The Godfather movies. The guide explores splendid hidden corners of authentic Sicily, way off the beaten paths. Fall in love with these medieval villages nested on the peak of two beautiful hills. Visit St. Lucy Church, where Michael married Apollonia and imagine them leaving followed by the brass band playing. The Cathedral of Forza d’Agrò, where another wedding scene was shot.Have a drink or a lemon granita at Bar Vitelli, where Michael Corleone asked Mr. Vitelli for the hand of his daughter Apollonia. Then explore the splendid “Castello degli schiavi” (on demand, subject to availability). This tour is about £45 (summer 2017)
CRUISE GREECE OUR GAME OF THRONES TAKE ON DUBROVNIK
Corleone: The Godfather’s Real History 5-Hour Tour – Click here for meeting point and availability, this tour can sell out.
Or Drive in a convoy of convertible Fiat 500’s
Bar Vitelli was featured as the place where Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) meets Mr. Vitelli (the bar owner) and ask his permission to court his daughter Apollonia (Simonetta Stefanelli), and also for the official engagement and for the party after the wedding cerimony. While in town “a must” is the stop for a Lemon Granita in this famous bar.
Aurora Ship Tour Azura Ship Tour Britannia Ship Tour Arcadia Ship Tour
Following the Godfather’s steps, next film location is the Cathedral of Maria S. Annunziata in Forza D’Agrò, that appears in the Godfather I when Michael goes to Corleone for the first time with his bodyguards (Calò and Fabrizio), and where the young Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) escapes to America hidden in a donkey hotly pursued by Don Ciccio’s men (The Godfather – Part II).
Here in Forza D’Agrò old Michael (GF3) shows his American wife (Diane Keaton) the house where his father Vito Andolini (Marlon Brando) from Corleone was born. Whichever tour you choose, whichever expert guide you have to humour you, enjoy.
If you are worried how to choose which cruise, which ship and where to go, take a look at our how to choose a cruise blog. Why not have a look at the LATE DEALS over a coffee. Doris Visits allows you to SEE THE CRUISE BEFORE YOU CRUISE THE SEA. We have videos of cruise stops worldwide.CHAT GROUP – Cruise the Mediterranean Chat – New Group, be one of the first to join and start a thread on your forthcoming or past cruise by number – – CLICK HERE TO SHARE & CHAT
Clicking the DORIS VISITS COMPARE CRUISE DEALS BOX takes you to a variety of deals and explains how they are all found.
- Fred Olsen cruises to Palermo, Sicily – Click here
- P&O Cruises on Giardini Naxos – Click here
- Marella Cruises – Marella Western Mediterranean Cruises
- Marella Cruises Cruise Chat – share your experiences, reviews, pictures, films and help others with their questions. JOIN THE CHAT GROUP
There has yet to be a book written in the Solo Cruiser series that is based around a Mediterranean Cruise, but we hear that one is being planned and that it takes place on a Strictly Come Dancing Cruise. The 4th book based in Florida and the Caribbean is due out early 2018. For now, if you have not read them, like in 50 Shades you might skim through the raunchy bits, but they are great cruise books with good stories. It never seems to work out the way it should though. Follow author Sally Katz by clicking her name and then on the author page on Amazon, click follow. Then as she releases a new book your are informed.
- MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE DESTINATIONS – MENU – CLICK HERE FOR GUIDES, TOWNS, CITIES & TOURS
