t Colourful streets of Corleone
The brutal crime syndicate known as the Mafia has long cast a dark shadow over Sicily. Although its presence is still felt throughout the island, the “Black Hand” is slowly and steadily losing its grip, thanks to grassroots movements that are challenging its influence.
t Colourful streets of Corleone
For fans of The Godfather, the name Corleone is synonymous with the Mafia. The town of the same name gave birth to the criminal organization. Come to this pretty town to visit Il Laboratorio della Legalità (www.laboratoriodellalegalita.it), located in a property confiscated from mob boss Bernardo Provenzano. Take the guided tour to discover more than 100 years of active resistance against the Mafia, including a collection of paintings by Gaetano Porcasi. Two blocks west, find CIDMA, a small antimafia museum that gives voice to those who have suffered under the Mafia-promoted culture of omertà (silence). Documents from the Maxi Trial and stories from the lives of the victims highlight the ongoing struggle for positive change.
A grassroots network is afoot, helping Sicilians to say “Addio pizzo“ (goodbye, Mafia protection money). Choose olive oil and wine bearing the Libera Terra (www.liberaterra.it) label. These products, grown on state-confiscated farmlands, help their producers stay free from Mafia control. Make a statement in more ways than one – La Coppola Storta (091 324428) has reclaimed the iconic Sicilian flat hat from a symbol of the Mafia to an emblem of a modern, free Sicily.
It’s possible to satiate Mafia curiosity and remain conscious of its victims. Retrace the history of the notorious cosa nostra by joining Addiopizzo Travel (www.addiopizzotravel.it) for a tour led by antimafia activists who examine the organization in a responsible and sensitive way.
The word Mafia is believed to come from the Arab word mahias meaning “bold man”.
Distrust in government following Risorgimento (Unification of Italy) in the late 19th century paved the way for a system of self-justice, known as cosa nostra (our thing). In Sicily, particularly after World War II, systematic extortion of ordinary people b y criminal “families” grew into a vast underground criminal network. During the Maxi Trial in 1986–87, some 360 mafiosi were convicted, but it wasn’t until 2006 that prosecutors were finally able to bring down the head of the Corleonesi family. Today, the Mafia is not yet fully extinguished.