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.

Ski property in Italy will benefit from an early Italian skiing season. The temperature has dropped and the first snow has fallen in the Italian Dolomites consequently Dolomiti Superski is proud to announce that the Italian ski slopes will be opening early as from weekend commencing 13^th November. 3 weeks earlier than normal the heavy snow in Italy has seen the snow ploughs already in action, the Italian ski slopes have been prepared, the hotels in this Italian ski region are ready to open for the Italian winter ski season.

I was recently in the Italian Dolomites studying the Italian ski property market and will be publishing a report shortly. If you are interested in a ski property investment in Italy then please subscribe to the MIPC newsletter, in the top right hand side, to ensure you receive the MIPC Italian ski property report.

Dolomiti Superski is the brand of 12 skiing networks in the Italian Dolomites. At the heart is the Sella Ronda circuit where you can ski from resort to resort round the Sella Ronda massif, 500km of slopes and a full days skiing. The mountain range is Unesco protected and the key resorts include Selva, Arabba, Canazei, to mention but a few of the Italian ski property resorts.

Trapani will host the Trapani International Match Cup from 29/10 – 1/11 /2009 part of the International Sailing Federation ISAF Italian Male Grade 2 sailing competition.

Trapani International Match Cup

Trapani became famous in the sailing circuit after hosting the Louis Vuitton Americas Cup in 2005, followed by the Trapani Cento Cup from 2006-2008.

This year the Trapani International Match Cup races will take place in the Sicilian sea near Trapani port and in the waters in front of Via Dante Alighieri, downtown Trapani. Hosts are Trapani Yacht Club, in partnership with the Circolo Canottieri di Marsala.

Ten competitors from 9 different countries will compete to increase their ranking in the ISAF Ranking List racing in the Comet 21 Open sailing boat with short 15-20 minute races.

During the weekend there will be live music from the Bohemian Rhapsody-Queen Tribute Band, talk-shows, cultural events and a night time sailing event.

The events are organised by Velaevento.

Buy a property in Sicily, Trapani.

Car rally in Sicily. rallye sicilia 2009

Car rally Sicily

Ever fancied racing across the Sicilan landscape in an epic, historic, prestige racing car in Sicily ? This weekend there is “The race in Sicily” hosted by Historic Racing Club.

Not much info on their website, but its normally a race that takes place round Lake Garda. This year there is the 1st Sicilian edition. Visitng Trapani, Erice and then onto Salemi, Selinunte and finishing in Marsala.

The event has been organised by the Associazione Culturale Sportiva Historic Racing Club, Marsala.

If you fancy hiring an epic race car for touring Sicily, then ask MIPC for further details.

Al Martino The Godfather

Al Martino famous for playing the role of Johnny Fontane in the 1972 film The Godfather died on Tuesday at his childhood home in Philadelphia.

Besides acting in the Marlon Brando classic “The Godfather,” Martino sang the 1972 film’s title score, “The Love Theme From The Godfather.” His Fontane character is a singer and occasional actor and is the godson of Brando’s Mafia boss character, Don Vito Corleone, a character supposedly based on Frank Sinatra, but with eerie similarities to Martino’s own career.

The Italian American singer, Al Martino, had Britain’s first number one record. The song, Here In My Heart, was top when the New Musical Express introduced its chart in November 1952. Martino, the former bricklayer’s other hits included Spanish Eyes, Can’t Help Falling in Love and Volare.

Mafia Tourism

Interest in films like the Godfather continue to drive mafia tourism to Sicily. Mafia tourism is a developing sector in sicilian tourism. If you are a travel agent and would like to know more about our mafia Godfather tourism program, including visits to Corleone, the mafia museum, Don Corleone memorial and more Godfather film locations please contact MIPC using the EMAIL MIPC tab at top of this page.

Al Martino | The Godfather | Johnny Fontane | Mafia Tourism

Messina floods landslides mudslide Sicily

Arriving in Trapani airport last night, the reality of the Messina floods hit home. Even on the west side of the island of Sicily there have been mud slides and many of the roads blocked by mud and landslides.

Messina is in the north east of Sicily on the Ionian coast and recently in the news for the approval of the project to build the Strait of Messina bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world, connecting Sicily to mainland Italy across the Messina strait from Reggio Calabria.

Torrential rain hit Sicily on Thursday 1^st October and overnight Messina floods. Apparently over 200cm of water fell within an hour creating devastating flash floods and mudslides.

The worst hit towns were were Giampilieri Superiore, 10km south of Messina, Scaletta Zanclea and Briga  Superiore.

The Italian state declared a state of emergency. This is the worst landslide disaster in Italy since 1998 in Naples.

24 dead of which the following 20 identified : Martino Scibilia, di 86 anni; Concetta Cannistraci, di 71; Monica Barascia, di 48; Carmelina Maria Barbera, di 81; Santina Porcino, di 33; Carmela Oliveri, di 47; Roberto Carullo, di 50; Onofrio Sturiale, di 26; Agnese Falgetano, di 44; Maria Letizia Scionti, di 26; Elena De Luca, di 75; Cristian Maugeri, di 22; Letterio Maugeri, di 23; Letterio Laganà, di 72; Teresa Macina, di 40; Francesco De Luca, di 74; Salvatore Scionti, di 64; Pasquale Neri, di 30; Giuseppe Tonante, di 76.

I have witnessed these Sicilian storms. The conflict of hot air coming from Africa and the cool air travelling south from the Italian Alps creates a metrological condition similar to a tropical cyclone.

Flooding was also reported in Palermo, Milazzo and Catania.

If you own an italian property in Sicily or on holiday in sicily or looking to buy a house in sicliy and flying into Catania Airport take note that local roads travelling north like the E45 or the statale 114 are still blocked. Keep to the autostrada A18 which is reported as clear today.

I trying to find out if a relief fund for the Messina Floods has been set up for donations…ok found them…there are 2…personally i’d go with option 2

1: Donate to Catania Council

Bank name : Banca di Sicilia

account name : “Vittime alluvione in Sicilia” …..translates as “Sicilian storm victims”

IBAN : IT54R0102004600000350350350

2 Donate to Messina Council(announced by the town of Reggio Calabria)

account name : “Comune di Messina – Servizio Tesoreria”

reference : “pro-alluvionati”

IBAN : IT 91Y0102016598000300034781

Read more here

2009 Messina floods and mudslides

Cous Cous Fest “Festival” San Vito lo Capo, Sicily.

Cous Cous , originating from Northern Africa , and now part of the Sicilian traditional cuisine is particularly present in the province of Trapani. The Sicilian fishing ports with their fresh daily catches provide the fundamental ingredients for Fish cous cous “di pesce”.

San Vito lo Capo a Sicilian seaside resort famous for its sandy beaches and crystal clear waters is the host of the annual cous cous fest.  This year taking place from 22^nd to 27^th September.

For further details visit the official website at Cous Cous Fest

Ryanair continue to invest into southern Italy.  This time connecting Puglia with Sicily. With direct flights from Trapani to Bari and Trapani to Brindisi. Thank you Mr O’leary you continue to make life easier for me working here as an Italian Property consultant in southern Italy. For me travelling across the south of Italy sourcing property in Italy, project management of client Italian property restoration  has always been a little difficult. Sometimes having to use the train and ferry to get from west sicily to Brindisi, which can take over 8 hours. Now as Ryaniar know there is an increasing number of clients looking for property in Puglia and property in Sicily flights are available to book today for the first departures in February 2010. Flight time under an hour from Trapani to Bari fantastic. With the recent Ryanair offer of £1 flights  it makes living and working in Italy pleasurable. Thank you Ryanair,

Ferragosto in Italy Sicily

15th August is the Italian national holiday of Ferragosto. Strange that a national holiday falling on a Saturday is not compensated with say the Monday but hey thats Italy.

All the city centres of Italy become ghost towns as everyone heads to the italian seaside. Traditionally the whole month of August was a holiday as the northern italian factories shutdown but here too times have changed and now its principally the week before and after Ferragosto that offices, factories close for holiday. There are of course, in this globalised world, some unfortunate italians whom still have to work. Today Friday the 14th the motorways are jammed and ferries shuttling to italian islands full, many of you hopefully have already reached your destination and are now preparing for this evening’s festivities.

Ferragosto eve, that is, the eve and night of the 14th, the festivities start. People chill out on the beach during the day then the evening explodes into beach parties, music pumping across the waves, drinking, and that midnight swim in the Mediterranean sea. “Falo”, beach fires, are common practice as BBQs fire up across the beaches.

Here feragosto in Sicily we are on the beach at Alcamo Marina, near to Castellamare del Golfo in the province of Trapani. The water is warm, people soaking up the sun and catching up on that needed sleep before tonight’s parties. Later were having a bikini apertif party on my friends boat : destination Tonnara di Scopello…should be fun, followed by dinner down at the harbour on the port side of Castellammare del Golfo. Most of the restaurants around the centre of Castellammare del Golfo feature cusucu a pesce (fish coucous). We are booked in at La Cambusa the best of the harbourside restaurants, next door is the Salvinus restaurant (also good). Both similar prices and ambience, with a selection of the catch of the day displayed for your order. Advice: Arrive early or book for the best tables.

The evening should continue into the early morning as we move onto the Lido Zanzibar just out of Castellammare del Golfo heading towards Alcamo Marina….

If you are in Italy maybe Sicily, looking for property in Italy or your holiday home in Sicily then take a break and enjoy Ferragosto. Buon Ferragosto.

Tre Fontane beach Sicily

Another great day at the beach. Tre Fontane on the south coast of western sicily, not far from Mazara del Vallo and even closer to Selinunte. To be honest i’ve been here in winter when its dead, but amazingly from the months of June to September the rolling sandy beaches and crystal clear water bring  the whole coast line to life.

We arrived late on a sunday morning Read the rest of this entry »