Antimafia tourism Sicily : Sicilian Mafia

I just heard a news item on UK BBC radio 4 announcing that in Sicily they have launched antimafia tourism in Palermo and Corleone.

Corleone mafia sicily

So what is the Antimafia ? As it’s name suggests it is the policing organisation against the Mafia. Officially called the DIA “Direzione Investigativa Antimafia”. Responsable for investigating mafia bosses, corruption, protection rackets “pizzo” and anything to do with organised crime in Sicily. Amongst sicilians the antimafia is NOW considered more dangerous than the mafia, in that they have the legal right to put you in prison whilst you are innocent and under investigation for mafia association. I have a sicilian friend who innocently sold a plot of land to wind turbine developers, whom are strongly associated with the mafia and he got locked up for 6 months until it was proved he had nothing to do with the developer.

The antimafia successfully claims to confiscate or reposses mafia assets including businesses, property and cash. Some of these assets are now donated back into the sicilian community. See Francesco Galante restaurant near Corleone once owned by the Cosa Nostra.

PS check out the gun bullet hole under the “O” in Corleone in the above picture.

The antimafia tourism promoting the first restaurant in Palermo that refused to pay the pizzo and with trips to Corleone sounds more like Mafia Tourism to me not antimafia tourism.