Sicily bans sale of mafia-themed gadgets on ships

Last Updated: September 5, 2023

The regional assessor for Infrastructure and Mobility, Alessandro Aricò, has stated that there will no longer be any gadgets on board the ships to and from Sicily that could damage the image of Sicily. This comes in response to the controversy over mafia-themed souvenirs being sold on the ferries between Messina and Villa San Giovanni, which was highlighted on social media by singer-songwriter Mario Incudine. Although the Strait crossing is not part of a contract with the Sicilian Region, immediate action was taken by Caronte & Tourist to remove the items, with the company being praised for their promptness. In addition, the Sicilian government has included a clause in the new contracts for ferry services to the Sicilian Islands, which prohibits the sale of any object on board that could demean the redemption of Sicily from stereotypes that are now part of its past and strongly rejected by Sicilians.