Italian town bans ‘Godfather’, mafia souvenirs, ‘humiliates’ locals

It’s not strictly business, it’s personal.

A Sicilian town is trying to cut its ties with organized crime by banning the sale of souvenirs linked to the mafia.

The mayor of Agrigento delivered the Sicilian message that street vendors and souvenir shop trinkets – which closely resemble mafia-related items sold in tourist traps around New York – “demean the local community.”

The hit song is an unintentional reference to anything related to “The Godfather.” Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 masterpiece was made famous by the film adaptation set on the Italian island known centuries ago as the birthplace of La Cosa Nostra.

“I recommend a ban on the sale of any type of object that praises or refers in any way or form to the mafia and organised crime,” said Mayor Francesco Miccichè.

Particularly in the city, which reportedly still struggles with mafia influence — five people were arrested this summer on related charges — Mario-style Ninetendo figurines featuring sawn-off “lupara” guns are proving popular, Euronews reports.

They were iconically worn by the bodyguards of Al Pacino’s incognito Michael Corleone as he hid after murdering Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo in a Bronx restaurant.

Police are now allowed to inspect shops for the presence of prohibited goods.

Although the ban has attracted much attention, Agrigento, famous for temples built in ancient Greece, still has a huge battle to fight to influence public opinion and has little time to do so.

The city appears set to become fully legitimized after the Italian government named it the country’s ‘Capital of Culture’ for 2025.

Some challenges arise from tourism websites that market “The Godfather” as a travel incentive to Sicily and describe the many local filming locations.

Agrigento also had difficulty attracting tourists this summer due to the drought in the region.