Sicily plans attack on mafia souvenirs: Travel Weekly Asia

Sicily is banning the sale of mafia-themed gifts and souvenirs in a bid to improve the image of the Italian island among visitors.

According to local authorities, products such as T-shirts featuring Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone from the film The Godfather promote “negative stereotypes that demean the community.”

Authorities are particularly concerned about objects depicting caricatured Sicilians wearing black berets and carrying hunting rifles on their backs.

Sicily is closely linked to the organized crime network Cosa Nostra and their deadly acts. Now the mayor of the city of Agrigento is banning “any type of object that praises or refers in any way or form to the mafia and organized crime.”

Companies that do not comply will be fined. Airports in Sicily have also been asked to clear their shops of mafia memorabilia.