I am in early stages for planning Sicily and was sort of blind sided by the extent of Mafia activities. One knows that it exists in Sicily and really - globally - but I had it on sort of a higher level than it functions in Sicily. 80% of businesses there pay pizzo - extortion - on a monthly basis. I have problems with this and not sure I can support this (even if indirectly).
Addiopizzo is a group of businesses that are refusing to pay pizzo. Their website now offers travel planning and lists accommodations through the island, but I am only one person (travel planning is minimum 2) and there don't seem to be many accommodations widespread.
Has anyone used their accommodations or businesses enough to tell me whether I can consider doing a self drive around Sicily (flying in Palermo, out Catania) pretty much doing a coastal route in between?
Thanks.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34242 posts
There have been a small few references to this topic. The most recent is at https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/sicily-tour-and-addiopizzo but none of them explicitly answer your question.
To find the others type the word into the search box next to magnifiying glass on a compter page, phones and tablets may show it differently.
Posted by
OP
Ontario, Canada
4657 posts
Thanks Nigel. I'll see what I can glean from this and more searching.
Posted by
30 posts
As you may have seen from my post last year, I was also concerned about the Mafia issue, and questioned the Rick Steves organisation about their support for the Adiopizzo movement. The first replies were a bit of a brush-off, but after persisting they did say they would “look into it”. As my tour nears in May this year I shall question them again, and see if they have just swept it under the rug or not. The bravery of the locals who stand up to the criminals is astonishing, so our little bit of snupport is the least we can do.
Posted by
OP
Ontario, Canada
4657 posts
Thanks for posting Josephine. I hope you find satisfactory information and have a wonderful trip. I would appreciate any feedback or reports. It will be a slow progress for those who say 'no', but progress is good. Happy travels.
Posted by
Woodbury, NJ, USA
27 posts
I am a bit curious. This is the second time you have posted this inquiry into the Addiopizzo movement in Sicily here and once on Tripadvisor and have received the same responses or lack thereof.
It is a very admirable organization and should be supported. By all means, take their tour, support them monetarily - money always talks. But if your scruples just won't allow you to commit, then maybe Sicily is not the place for your next trip.
In the many years we have been travelling to Sicily I would like to think that none of our money has been part of a business owner's pizzo but, we live in the real world and know that that is not reasonable. Sicily deserves to be embraced as it is and for the changes that have taken place in the last 10 years. Change comes to Sicily in small increments, each visitor contributes to that change. Go, enjoy and leave the soapbox at home.
Posted by
OP
Ontario, Canada
4657 posts
Chris, I am not entirely sure who you are replying to.
I replied to Josephine's comments as a courtesy, to wish her good luck and acknowledge change is slow.
You have no need to be curious or to envision an imaginary soap box.
I have definitely moved on for now. Feel free to do the same, and enjoy Sicily as you wish to.