The Godfather was filmed in multiple locations, primarily around New York and Sicily. Key filming locations in New York include Staten Island (not Long Island as often thought) where the Corleone mansion was depicted, Manhattan's Little Italy for scenes such as the christening, and other locations in the Bronx and Long Island for various scenes. In Sicily, important filming took place in towns like Forza d'Agrò and Savoca in the province of Messina, which stood in for the Corleone village scenes. The village of Corleone itself was avoided as it looked too modern for the movie's setting. Other specific spots include old churches, village streets, and countryside areas around these Sicilian towns. Filming took place mostly between March and August of 1971. This blend of New York urban settings and authentic Sicilian towns helped create the iconic atmosphere of the film.