Thursday, July 20, 2017

(Virtual) Corleone


Corleone (these days) is best known for its setting in the film "The Godfather"

Actor Al Pacino (film non-withstanding) actually traced his familial roots back to the tiny hard-scrabble hamlet.

And the sign at the town's border kind of made me wonder WTH?






(what...no horns...???)

Located 1,778 feet above sea level, Corleone is home to a little over 12,000 people. And yes, Corleone was home to several very real Mafia Bosses well  before the ficticious Vito came to pass. In the 1980's and 1990's the town gave  rise to The Corleonesi who were considered the most ruthless and violent clan to ever take control of the organization.

The CIDMA in Corleone

https://youtu.be/gsDb17Cs-GU

Mafioso aside, Coreleone has been occupied since the Neolithic and Bronze era.

Tour of Corleone

https://youtu.be/uGYXFUg2Q68

Along the roadside from Corleone to Ficuzza is The Gorges of The Dragon.


The locals call deep holes in the limestone filled with water "Giant's Pots".

The Ficuzza Forest is filled with flora and fauna of the region. Mulberry trees, oranges, figs and pomegranates thrive attesting as a living history when this area was once managed by a mill.


 And no...still trying to find out what the big deal is  about the trumpets. One Sicilian speculated it meant "no horns" as in auto...while driving. Another simply played the first few bars from the Godfather score on...you guessed it...a trumpet. 

More anon...