Where Was The Godfather Part II Filmed: All Filming Locations Explained

Summary The Godfather Part II was filmed on location, adding authenticity to the story of the Corleone crime family.

The Lake Tahoe estate in the film is real, showcasing the success of the family business under Vito's leadership.

Various locations, from Sicily to New York City, were used in the filming of The Godfather Part II, allowing for a more realistic depiction.

With Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather Part II celebrating its 50th anniversary, long-time fans and first-time viewers alike might be wondering where the Oscar-winning Godfather sequel was filmed. Loosely based on Mario Puzo's epic crime novel, The Godfather Part II serves as both a prequel and a sequel to the original 1972 film. The movie's dual timelines allow Coppola to parallel the story of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) with that of his father, Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro). While Michael's story chronicles the decline of the family business, Vito Corleone's timeline traces the rise of his enterprise.

One of only two sequels to win an Academy Award, The Godfather Part II is the rare follow-up that has exceeded the original picture's success. Part of The Godfather movies' appeal is the feeling of authenticity. Whether Coppola is chronicling Vito's time in Sicily or a shootout on a New York highway, The Godfather's filming locations are crucial to building the world of the Corleone crime family. Much like the first Godfather film, the sequel was largely filmed on location, though some spots are stand-ins for the settings called for in the script.

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Michael's House On Lake Tahoe Is Not A Set

The First Communion Party Was Filmed At A Lakeside House In Fleur Du Lac

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In the wake of The Godfather's ending, Michael becomes the Corleone family's new don. When the sequel picks up with him in 1958, Michael is attending his son's First Communion party at an estate on Lake Tahoe. Straddling the California and Nevada border, Tahoe is a stunning freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and serves as an incredibly cinematic backdrop. Of all The Godfather Part II's filming locations, the Corleone family's lakeside Fleur du Lac Estates mansion, which is located along the western shore of Lake Tahoe, is perhaps the most recognizable.

Michael watches from the sunroom of the Lake Tahoe estate as his orders to kill Fredo...are acted upon.

Although some elements on the property were added by the film's production team, the estate is very real. Built by Henry J. Kaiser to celebrate the historic completion of the Hoover Dam, the 15-acre gated community boasts a massive house, an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, and a private marina (via SFGATE). Undoubtedly, the Lake Tahoe estate illustrates the success of the Corleone crime family under Vito's leadership. Most notably, Michael watches from the sunroom of the Lake Tahoe estate as his orders to kill Fredo (John Cazale), his brother, are acted upon in The Godfather Part II's ending.

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The Godfather Part II's Sicily Scenes Were Filmed On Location

The Town Of Corleone Uses Forza d'Agrò & Savoca As Backdrops

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Coppola's prequel-meets-sequel opens in Corleone, Sicily, with a nine-year-old Vito (Oreste Baldini) learning that his family has been killed by the local Mafia chieftain, Don Ciccio (Giuseppe Sillato), after his father failed to pay tribute. Although Vito manages to flee Sicily and rise to the head of his own crime syndicate in New York City, the Corleone Don returns to his home island in 1922 with his family under the guise of establishing an olive oil importing business. The ulterior motive, of course, is that Vito wants to avenge his family by killing Don Ciccio.

Savoca's Bar Vitelli remains a popular tourist destination...

The Godfather Part II's cast of characters actually traveled to Sicily to shoot these sequences on location. Primarily, the picturesque landscapes featured in Coppola's film are of the northeastern municipality of Taormina. In particular, the hilltop town of Forza d'Agrò, along with Savoca, served as the backdrop for the town of Corleone in The Godfather films. While Savoca's Bar Vitelli remains a popular tourist destination, fans also visit the iconic Baroque country house of Castello degli Schiavi on their travels.

Related Why Fredo Betrayed Michael In The Godfather Part II The Godfather Part II's ending centers on the tragic fallout of Fredo betraying Michael Corleone, but why did Fredo almost get his brother killed?

New York City's East Village Was Transformed Into Little Italy

The 1917-Era New York City Street Scenes Were Filmed On Location

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In order to capture an authentic depiction of 1917 New York City, The Godfather Part II's production team transformed Manhattan's East Village into the Little Italy of yesteryear. In addition to transforming the streets, the film also used several well-known businesses and attractions as backdrops. For example, the scene where Pentangeli (Michael V. Gazzo) meets the Rosato brothers (Carmine Caridi and Danny Aiello) at a bar was filmed at the 7B Horseshoe Bar in the East Village, while the baptism scene was shot at The Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral.

In The Godfather Part II, young Vito Corleone's arrival in New York Harbor was shot at the Ellis Island Museum.

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The Dominican Republic Was A Stand-In For Cuba In The Godfather Part II

Hyman Roth's Home Was Actually Located In North Miama, Florida

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After surviving an assassination attempt, Michael suspects a traitor within the family's ranks, though he believes the scheme was plotted by Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg), a Jewish mob boss and long-time business partner. Eventually, Michael decides to meet with Roth at his home. In real life, the estate is located off Biscayne Boulevard in the Keystone Islands of North Miami, Florida. However, Michael and Roth's business trip to Cuba was shot in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. From Florida to Sicily, it's clear that The Godfather Part II's preference for locations over studio sets paid off.

As of August 2024, The Godfather Part II is streaming on Paramount+.

Sources: SFGATE, IMDb