So our last day in Palermo. We started our walking tour in front of the famous Opera house in Palermo, which was fitting, because it was featured in The Godfather pt III, and our tour was being led by a member of the Anti-mafia group, "Adiopizzo". "Pizzo" is the fee that you pay to the Mafia in order to receive their protection. You don't really have a choice, if they come knocking, you pay because you want your business to stay open. It doesn't matter how much you pay, but the fact that you are paying legitimizes the Mafia's power, and acknowledges their influence in the public sphere. So Adiopizzo, the group, aims to provide shopkeepers and entrepreneurs with a safe haven so that they do not feel pressured into paying the pizzo. The Mafia cannot attack all the businesses if they stand up together, and so far they have been very successful. No member has left their group, and they have been recognized by the city and the police force.
So our guide was going to lead us to several important parts of Palermo, which each had a connection to the Mafia. We walked through one of the open air markets in Palermo into the middle of the courts in Palermo. There is a monument to the magistrates killed in the fight against the Mafia, most famous being Giovanni Falcone. The green statues represent the wings of justice, and the pillars are supposed to represent the importance of respecting and abiding by justice, because (as seen on the columns) the farther you stray from justice, the more cracks form.
After that we continued through the streets, coming across a small parade in the market, with the kids leading with the flag, and of course very respectable men in special garb. Naturally I had to document my presence there...
We then arrived at the main Duomo in Palermo, which was a true spectacle. It has two important stories connected to it. First is the story of St. Rosalina, the patron saint of Palermo. After she died, a plague struck Palermo, and she guided a traveler to her grave, and told him to take her remains and walk them through the city of Palermo. He did so, and the city was cured of the Plague. Her remains were then buried in this church. Every year they city walks her remains through the city on a certain day, to pay homage to her actions. The second story involves a very prominent priest who "fought" against the Mafia. He went into neighborhoods were the Mafia had a large influence and tried to convert them to proper Catholicism (the Mafia of course believes they follow religious doctrines). He was assassinated and became a sort of martyr for the Anti-Mafia movement. He too is buried in this church. The church itself has a great history, being commissioned by a Norman king, but had islamic and baroque styles of architecture mixed in.
Next we walked past a workshop that painted the designs for carts.This is a very old tradition of Sicily, with either the entire cart being painted to depict a story or just the rear panel, but as you can see, the tradition has evolved now, with the use of very small three-wheeled cars being used instead of carts.
Finally I want to give an honorable mention (shout out for all you youngins) to this man. I have no idea who you are, but I hope that you will come to the realization that your pants are just to high. How do you not have one permanent wedgie? Do you have the shortest torso known to man? Does your wife not advise you to wear something different in the morning?? I can't imagine you said, "I know, I'll wear my super shorts today" and thought it would be comfortable. Just had to share your story Mr. Eric Highpants. Nigel Tightwaist. Roger Tallhips. Alfred I'velostthebottomofmyshorts. Dick Shorttrousers. Stanley Bearknees.