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Sicily

A BACKDROP THAT CAN’T BE REFUSED: MESSINA Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic Godfather trilogy shone a massive spotlight on new destinations for me to dream of. While Corleone, the birthplace of the family’s patriarch, is a real town in the province of Palermo, the director opted to film in Messina. Movie magic strikes again! Messina is a living testament to the many civilisations that have traversed it: from Roman, Byzantine and Arab invasions to the days of glory during Aragon’s reign when Messina became capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Yet, through Coppola’s films, viewers were able to see a rugged and quaint view of this region, beginning with the Sicilian village of Forza d’Agrò — the stand-in for Corleone’s hometown. Entire scenes were shot overlooking the coastline and Arab-Norman castle of Capo Sant’Alessio, as well as in and around the central cathedral, which is one of the most beautiful in this region. Twenty minutes from Forza d’Agrò is one of the most famous film locations in the village of Savoca: Bar Vitelli. This is where Michael Corleone asks for Apollonia’s hand in marriage. However, this is no ordinary bar. It’s housed in the 18th-century Palazzo Trimarchi, located in the Piazza Fossia, the town’s main square. The bar features an outdoor vine-covered terrace from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the areas surrounding Savoca.

BEING ON SET

When I did get the opportunity to travel to Sicily, it was like walking onto a movie set. The beaches, Mount Etna, and the charming villages were more than beautiful backdrops, they were very much real. As were the delicacies of Messina that were thankfully not props (read: wine and cannoli) . I had the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Malèna while in Trapani, and even had my own Monica Vitti moment in Taormina, while overlooking the Ionian Sea. I sent a postcard from Lipari in honour of Il Postino and discovered the hidden streets of Palermo with the enthusiasm of a child. Whether it’s a romantic comedy set in Siracusa or a tense drama showcasing the stunning shores of Catania, Sicily’s beauty is a scene stealer. Mari de Armas is a travel writer specialising in luxury cruising. She is a regular contributor to the official blog of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Luxury Goes Exploring. Read more of her posts at RSSC.com/discover-more/blog.

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED: LIPARI

After watching the film Il Postino , I too had created my own trilogy of Sicilian destinations by adding the Aeolian Islands to the list. The classic 1994 Italian film directed by Michael Radford tells the fictional story in which Chilean poet Pablo Neruda forms a friendship with a local postman. Eventually writing his own poetry, the postman captures the heart of the love of his life. This Oscar-nominated movie was filmed along the north-east coast of Sicily, making the turquoise water and volcanic peaks almost as important as the main character.

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