It’s not “strictly business”, it’s personal.
A town in Sicily is trying to undo its ties to organized crime by banning the sale of mafia-related souvenirs.
Agrigento’s mayor delivered the Sicilian message that street vendors and gift shops — very similar to the crowd-sourced paraphernalia sold in tourist traps around NYC — “demean the local community.”
Specifically, the unintentional hit applies to anything related to The Godfather. Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 masterpiece was famously filmed on the Italian island known as the birthplace of La Cosa Nostra centuries ago.
“I order the ban on the sale of any type of object that glorifies, or refers in any way and form, to the mafia and organized crime,” said Mayor Francesco Miccichè.
Particularly in the city that is said to still be struggling with mafia influence — five were arrested on related charges this summer — Nintendo Mario-looking figurines wielding cut-out “lupara” shotguns are very popular, according to Euronews.
They were iconically held by Al Pacino’s undercover Michael Corleone bodyguards as he went into hiding after killing Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo inside a Bronx restaurant.
Police will now be allowed to inspect shops for carrying related contraband.
While the ban has attracted a lot of attention, Agrigento – known for building temples during the days of ancient Greece – has an incredibly uphill battle to shake public perception and little time to do so.
The city looks set to go completely legit after being named by the Italian government as the country’s “Capital of Culture” for 2025.
Some of the challenges come from tourism websites that market “The Godfather” as a travel incentive to Sicily and describe many local filming locations.
Agrigento also struggled to attract travelers this summer due to the drought in the region.
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Image Source : nypost.com