Savoca and Forza d'Agrò day trip from Taormina or Catania or Messina
A day trip to Savoca and Forza d'Agrò from Taormina, Catania or Messina: the Pentefur Castle ruins, the church of San Nicolò and Bar Vitelli from The Godfather, the Capuchin crypt with its mummies, the Norman church of Santi Pietro e Paolo d'Agrò, then the castle, the main square and the Chiesa della Triade with the Arco Durante in Forza d'Agrò. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Savoca and Forza d'Agrò in 1 day
Day 1
Pentefur Castle ruins, Savoca
Ruins of the medieval castle on the rock above Savoca, reached by a short steep path, with views over the valley and sea.
Church of San Nicolò (Santa Lucia), Savoca
Fortress-like church on a spur of rock at the edge of Savoca, where Michael and Apollonia's wedding in The Godfather was filmed.
Capuchin Crypt of Savoca (mummies)
Crypt under the Capuchin convent with the mummified bodies of local nobles and clergy from the 1600s to the 1800s, in their clothes.
Bar Vitelli and Piazza Fossia (historic centre of Savoca)
Small square at the heart of Savoca with Bar Vitelli, the Godfather film bar in an old palazzo, a stop for granita.
Church of Santi Pietro e Paolo d'Agrò
Norman-era church of the 12th century in the Agrò valley, with brick and stone patterns and Arab-Byzantine domes.
Chiesa della Triade and Arco Durante, Forza d'Agrò
Small church of the Holy Trinity next to the Arco Durante, a pointed medieval archway, in one of the village's oldest corners.
Historic centre of Forza d'Agrò (Piazza Santissima Annunziata)
Hilltop village of narrow lanes and stairways that stood in for Corleone in The Godfather films, with views down to the sea.
Castle of Forza d'Agrò
Ruined castle at the top of Forza d'Agrò, with views over the coast towards Taormina and across the strait to Calabria.
Watch: Savoca and Forza d'Agrò
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
By car from Taormina it is about 30 minutes, from Messina about 40 minutes and from Catania about 1 hour, along the coast to Santa Teresa di Riva and up the hill road to Savoca. Forza d'Agrò is about 15 minutes' drive from Savoca. Buses run from Taormina and Messina to Santa Teresa di Riva, but connections up to the villages are infrequent.
Staying in Taormina or Catania or Messina? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Savoca and Forza d'Agrò
April to June and September to October are the best months: warm, green and clear enough to see the coast and Calabria. July and August are hot, so visit the villages in the morning and keep the afternoon for the sea. Winter is mild but quiet, with some bars closed, and the villages celebrate their saints with processions in summer.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Savoca and Forza d'Agrò on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Savoca and Forza d'Agrò on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Savoca and Forza d'Agrò on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
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Tips for Savoca and Forza d'Agrò
- A car is the easy way: the villages sit on ridges above the coast, linked by winding roads, and local buses from Santa Teresa di Riva are few.
- Order a lemon granita at Bar Vitelli, where Michael Corleone meets Apollonia's father in The Godfather; the terrace looks over the valley.
- Both villages are steep, with stairways and uneven paving; wear good shoes, especially for the paths up to the castle ruins.
- Small churches and the crypt keep short and changing hours; check them before the trip or ask in the village on arrival.
- Combine the day with Taormina, Castelmola or the beach at Letojanni or Santa Teresa di Riva on the way back.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Bar Vitelli and Piazza Fossia (historic centre of Savoca): Eugenio Nicola Scarcella, Public domain
- Castle of Forza d'Agrò: Jeanne boleyn, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chiesa della Triade and Arco Durante, Forza d'Agrò: trolvag, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Church of San Nicolò (Santa Lucia), Savoca: Eutrope, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Church of Santi Pietro e Paolo d'Agrò: Antonio Casablanca. Original uploader was Tony Casablanca at it.wikipedia, Public domain
- Historic centre of Forza d'Agrò (Piazza Santissima Annunziata): Clemensfranz, CC BY 2.5
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
