Italian town bans the sale of Mafia-themed souvenirs
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- Agrigento has banned the sale of Mafia-themed souvenirs ahead of becoming the Capital of Culture.
- The mayor aims to improve the city's image and reject the Mafia's influence on tourism.
- Similar rules have been issued for gift stores in local airports and on ferries that dock around Sicily.
The Sicilian city of Agrigento has decided to ban Mafia-themed souvenirs ahead of becoming Italy's 2025 Capital of Culture.
The ban, issued by the town's mayor, Francesco Miccichè, aims to make clear that the criminal organization is not tolerated by local authorities.
Agrigento is a UNESCO World Heritage site with archaeological remains dating back to the sixth century B.C. but also continues to be associated with the Mafia.
Characters from the movie "The Godfather " have been depicted in magnets and ceramics, Italian news channel Sky TG24 reported.
The mob, also known as Cosa Nostra, still operates on the island — and has since at least the 19th century.
The ban on souvenir stores is the latest in a series of moves to limit the destination's connection with the Mafia.
In 2023, the regional government ordered ferries that dock around Sicily to stop selling mafia-themed merchandise in their onboard gift stores.
Alessandro Aricò, the councilor in charge of transport and infrastructure, has also ordered the island's airports to stop stocking these souvenirs to tackle negative stereotypes, according to local newspaper La Sicilia.
Fines may be issued if items thought to glamorize the Mafia are found by local police.
Business Insider contacted Agrigento's mayor, Francesco Miccichè, and councilor Alessandro Aricò for comment but didn't immediately hear back.