On the Trails of the Mafia in Sicily

19.09.2010

(Picture and Link: Bornpower.de)

Etymology:

The name "mafia" probably derives from the Arab word "mu'afa" meaning protection.

It is an umbrella word for the Italian criminal organisations

Cosa Nostra (from Sicily)
Camorra (from Napoli and Campania)
the 'Ndrangheta (from Calabria)
the Stidda (southern Sicily) and
the Sacra Corona Unita (from Apulia).

Other mafia organisations are associated with Albania, Chechnya, China (Triads), Corsica, Japan (Yakuza), Russia. (Source: Wikipedia).

Read:

On Sicily's Mafia Trail (click) "The Telegraph"

Mafiosos’ Retreats, Peacefully Repurposed in Sicily (click) "New York Times"

Sights:

Grand Hotel et Des Palmes, Palermo **** (Site of famous mafia meeting in 1957 including Luciano, Bonnano, Buschetta)

Spanò seafood restaurant, Palermo (Famous mafia meeting in 1957 including Luciano, Bonnano, Buschetta)

Mafia Monument in Palermo

Centro Siciliano di Documentazione "Giuseppe Impastato", Palermo

Catacombes of the Capuchines, Palermo

Capaci Exit (Highway at Capaci, site of the mafia bomb killing Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino in 1992)

Castellamare ("The Castellamare War" 1930)

Agriturismo Portella della Ginestra, Piana degli Albanesi ** (Site of the Massacre in 1947. Property confiscated from Toto "The Beast" Riina.)

Agriturismo Terre Di Corleone, Corleone ** (Arrest of "capo di tutti capi" for 40 years, Bernardo Provenzano in 2006. Property confiscated from Toto "The Beast" Riina.)

Corleone (Birthplace of several Mafia bosses, some fictional, such as The Godfather's Vito Corleone, and some real, such as Toto Riina and Bernardo Provenzano. )

Soprano (The US TV drama series The Sopranos is named after the almost destruct 'Castello Soprano', which is situated near to Corleone and forms part of "Eremo San Bernardo" together with Castello Sottano.)

Lercara Friddi (Birthplace of Lucky Luciano - and Frank Sinatra's grandparents)

Prizzi (Movie "Prizzi's Honour")

Best hotels in Sicily:

Grand Hotel San Domenico, Taormina *****

Grand Hotel Timeo, Taormina *****

Villa Athena, Agrigento *****

Hilton Villa Igiea, Palermo *****

Dona Fugata Golf Resort, Ragusa *****

Kempinski Hotel Giardino di Costanza, Mazaro del Vallo *****

Atelier Sul Mare, Cefalu ***/*

Hotel Raya, Panarea (Aeolian Islands) ****/*

See also: