SAVOCA SICILY. The Sicilian City of the Godfather, «Cosa Nostra» and Mafia

Savoca: The city where Godfather was filmed. Savoca, a very ancient Greek name and a greek city, does not appear to have a distinct, established ancient or Byzantine Greek name. The designation Savoca / Sàvoca is the one found throughout the town's historical trajectory. The interesting detail lies in its etymology. The prevailing interpretation connects the name to the Greek σάβουκα / σάβυκα (sábuka), meaning elderberry (Sambucus). In fact, a linguistic publication explicitly states: "Sàvoca – dal greco sàbuka = sambuchi" meaning: "Savoca, from the Greek sábuka, elderberries." Furthermore, the Comune di Savoca itself considers the derivation from the sambuco plant—which in the Sicilian dialect is savucu—to be the most plausible. Therefore, if we want to render it in Greek, "Σαβόκα" is essentially the transliteration of the historical toponym, rather than a translation of a different name. What exactly does Mario Puzo say in the novel "The Godfather" about Savoca and Apollonia? In Apollonia's storyline, Fabrizio and Calò(Calogero) have seen the girl and go with Michael to her father's cafe, Signor Vitelli's. Fabrizio describes her as: "A type of girl more Greek than Italian." And Calò repeats in Italian: "Più Greca d'Italiana." Vitelli then denies knowing any such girl. Shortly after, Fabrizio realizes that the girl they are referring to is the daughter of Vitelli, the tavern keeper.