Forza d'Agro holidays

When it comes to scenic beauty and old-world Italian charm, it doesn't get much better than holidays to Forza d'Agro.

The Godfather Village

This cosy village slots into a small mountain, on Sicily’s east coast. In fact, it’s so quaint that director Francis Ford Coppola filmed part of The Godfather here. But fame hasn’t changed this old traditionalist. The narrow streets are mostly car-free and there’s a dinky town square with a million-dollar view.

Faith and fame

Forza d’Agro was made for wandering. On a stroll, you can take in the views, dip into the churches and head up to the crumbling Norman castle. It might be a tiny place, but it’s also got its own cathedral, which was used in The Godfather films. Plus, there’s an interesting little museum, where you can check out famous Sicilian landmarks sculpted out of chocolate.

Exploring the island

If the coast calls, it’s a 10-minute drive to a long, sandy beach. The journey there in itself is an adventure, with winding, corkscrew bends taking you down the mountainside. If you continue on for another 20 minutes, you’ll reach Taormina, another mountaintop town. Tourists flock here in droves to ogle the stunning vistas, upmarket shops and ancient theatre.