Italian city bans ‘Godfather,’ mafia souvenirs because it ‘humiliates’ the locals
It’s not “strictly business,” it’s personal.
A city in Sicily is trying to rescind its connections to organized crime by banning the sale of souvenirs relevant to the mafia.
The mayor of Agrigento gave the Sicilian message that street vendors and gift shop tchotchkes — very similar to mob-related paraphernalia sold in tourist traps around NYC — “humiliates the local community.”
Specifically, the hit inadvertently applies to anything related to “The Godfather.” The 1972 Francis Ford Coppola masterpiece was famously filmed on the Italian island known as the birthplace of La Cosa Nostra centuries ago.
“I order a ban on the sale of any type of object that praises, or refers in any way and form, to the mafia and organized crime,” mayor Francesco Miccichè said.
Specifically in the city that reportedly still struggles with mafia influence — five were arrested on related charges this summer — Nintendo Mario-looking figurines toting “lupara” sawed-off shotguns are highly popular, according to Euronews.
They were iconically carried by the bodyguards of Al Pacino’s incognito Michael Corleone as he hid out after killing Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo inside a Bronx restaurant.
Police will now be allowed to inspect shops for keeping the con-related contraband.
While the ban has caught a great deal of attention, Agrigento — known for having temples built during the days of ancient Greece — has a tremendous uphill battle to sway public perception and little time to do so.
The city looks to go completely legitimate after being named by the Italian government as the nation’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 outline its many local filming locations.
Agrigento also struggled with luring in travelers this summer due to droughts in the region.
