Description
A Mafia walking tour in Palermo is more than a list of sights: this one follows two stories at once, the influence of organised crime on daily life and the civic movement that rose against it. The guide leads you through the historic centre for about three hours, and the aim is to replace clichés with a clearer picture.
You will see Teatro Massimo, the street market of Il Capo and Piazza della Memoria, where prosecutors and judges killed by the Mafia are remembered. On the Cassaro, look for the orange stickers in shop windows. Each marks a business whose owner has said no to extortion and joined the consumer campaign pago chi non paga, meaning I pay who does not pay.
The walk also takes in:
- Piazza Beati Paoli
- Palermo Cathedral
- the city hall
It ends in the middle of the old town, where the guide suggests how to carry on exploring and where to try Sicilian specialities. The tour includes a contribution to the Addiopizzo charitable organisation. Museum and monument entrances are not included, and the tour runs in several languages, including English and Italian.