← All storiesGeneralDeveloping story âThe Godfatherâ landed in this Sicilian village in 1971. Life was never the same again | CNN
Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travelâs weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay. In our roundup of travel news and features this week, the real-life filming locations for âThe Godfatherâ and âThe White Lotus,â audacious underground mega tunnels in Europe, plus a big overhaul on the way for US air traffic control. When the cast and crew of Francis Ford Coppolaâs seminal 1972 film âThe Godfatherâ descended on Savoca, Sicily, more than 50 years ago, it was a tiny village with unpaved roads, fewer than 100 residents and no running water. âThe movie was a total godsend,â says Vincenzo Pasquale, 72, who at age 18 was cast as an extra in the movie. Of the Sicilian locations that are featured in the legendary blockbuster, Savoca is still the most visited. âSince the cruisers arrived some 20 years ago, the tourists are overwhelming,â says Pasquale. âOn some days, they cram the streets, and I need to honk the horn to drive through.â Filming is currently underway for the fourth season of HBO comedy-drama âThe White Lotus,â which previously immortalized such impossibly chic, intimidatin

Jun 20, 2026
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