The world-famous town of Corleone, well known due to Francis Ford Coppola's film adaptation of Mario Puzo's novel Il Padrino, or the Godfather, is located inland, on the north-western part of Sicily, 57 km. south of Palermo.
The town has about 11,000 inhabitants. There is nothing special about the town itself, beyond its undeniable connection to the infamous Sicilian Mafia Cosa Nostra . Both in terms of its status as the birthplace of Vito Corleone, the main character in Coppola's fictional universe and in terms of its true status as a former unofficial 'capital' of Cosa Nostra .
Read more about Corleone
When visiting the town today, do not expect dramas of any kind. The town works and appears as a traditional Sicilian town, and in recent years it has experienced a significant anti-mafia movement wave. After the tragic murder of the highly respected and admired mafia judge Giovanni Falcone in 1992, the mood of many Sicilians turned against Cosa Nostra , and a large number of anti-mafia associations emerged in the background. Part of the land and the property formerly owned by members of the Mafia is now administered by the state, and the ground is cultivated by various anti-mafia associations, which produce and sell organic products, including excellent wines.
Due to the city's mythical legends it has become a popular idea especially amongst Scandinavian couples to come to Corleone and get married. The town has a nice historical centre with restaurants, cafes and shops. It is possible to get to and from Corleone by bus. From Palermo take it around two hours.
