The violin theme from The Godfather filled my head as I biked through Sicily’s Noto Valley. I first saw this landscape in a suburban New Jersey movie theater over thirty years ago. Now, as I pedaled through the real thing—windswept golden hills dotted with sun bleached poppies and oleander—I wouldn’t have been surprised if Michael Corleone himself appeared over that rise in the distance. Throughout the Backroads Multisport trip I took last May, I found myself having moments like this: Scenery that had captured my imagination in dark movie theaters would suddenly appear in the blazing sunlight and I’d get a thrilling rush, feeling as though I’d slipped onto the screen.
The week-long itinerary took us through three highlights of Sicily’s East coast—cycling through the southern and less-frequented Noto Valley, hiking above the posh resort of Taormina, and boating around the remote Aeolian Islands. Each of these locations featured mesmerizing backdrops—from ancient ruins to smoldering volcanoes and sparkling seas. It’s no wonder moviemakers from Francis Ford Coppola to Roberto Rosselini were inspired to shoot there, and that travelers like me, after seeing their films, got motivated to pack up and experience these places first hand.
Since my husband isn’t the sporty type, he stayed home and I was the solo gal among twelve others, which included four couples and a group of women from New York who’d been friends since high school days. Being unattached gave me the freedom I crave on vacations. I could blend in with the gang for delicious meals and conversation or wander off to immerse myself in my movie memories.
The refreshments I ate along the way were far more delectable than the popcorn and Goobers I’d munched on when I first saw this scenery. The Godfather countryside we biked through took us to the Blue Moon Gelateria in the seaside village of Donnalucata, where I elbowed in at the counter along with the local carbinieri to taste the best pistachio gelato I’ve ever eaten.
Later that day, a tasting of homemade chocolate was spread out for us at Specialita Modica di Cioccolato in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Modica. We savored bites of light nutty candies and sips of thick chocolate liqueur while Gianlucca, the sugar-charged shopkeeper, raved to us Americani that he’d flown to Milan the week before to see, “BRRRuce SpRRRRingsteen singing PeteRRR SeegeRRR! Che Brava!”
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