Ciao PenPalz!

After recovering from our busy, fun-filled summer, and settling into the new school routine, we stayed mostly local this month. A few random day trips, and then one special trip about an hour and a half away to the little town of Savoca! 

High up on a mountain side, it was a steep drive with lots of cutbacks, that open up to a beautiful view! Unlike many small towns in Sicily, this was so well kept. We found it so fascinating the mix of old, well preserved history (much of Sicily is not so well kept) with the new “Godfather” movie history. Godfather fans will love this town as you feel like you are stepping back in time with Al Pacino and the real Corleone family. The town of Corleone (on the other side of the island where the real family is from) looked too “modern,” supposedly, which is why much of the filming was done here, in Savoca. 

Though the “M” word is not spoken around here, and it is very hush-hush, it is still a legitimate part of the Sicilian culture and Sicilian life. 

We sat at Bar Vitale where Michael Corelone sat to ask for permission to wed Apollonia. Then we walked through the beautiful San Nicolo church where Michael and Agripina were married, a church from the 13th century.

We would have explored more, but unfortunately Bella, who was at school, ended up in the nurse office that day and we had to rush home early. Nothing luck trying to be on a day-trip an hour and half away to get that call. But nonetheless, we took our pizza and pasta to go, and busted our way home. 

The girls all helped with postcards, with Cali doing most of them. One lucky PenPal has a total Godfather themed box heading their way!

Next month: Ortigia