Corleone

Corleone is a city in the province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, with 11,258 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012). The name Corleone is composed of the Italian words cuore ( German Heart) and leone ( German Lion) which meant literally Lionheart. The coat of arms of the city shows upright lion on a red background.

Geography

Corleone is on the SS 118 on a pass of the Monti Sicani between Palermo and Agrigento, about 60 km south of Palermo and 110 km north of Agrigento. The community belongs to the following associations and organizations: Regione Agraria n 1 - Montagna interna - Montagna di Corleone; Patto Territorial Alto Belice Corleonese. Districts are Ficuzza ( 11.41 km ), Giardinello and Imbriaca di Corleone.

The neighboring municipalities are Bisacquino, Campo Felice di Fitalia, Campofiorito, Chiusa Sclafani, Contessa Entellina Godrano, Mezzojuso, Monreale, Palazzo Adriano, Prizzi and Roccamena.

History

Corleone has a long ancient history, which dates back to the 7th century BC. Under Roman rule was called Corleone Animosa Civitas. Due to its strategically important location halfway the main street of Palermo to Agrigento Corleone was an important base for all the rulers of Sicily.

840 Corleone was conquered by the Arabs in 1072 by the Normans, who destroyed all Arab buildings to build Christian buildings. In the 13th century the town flourished and became a major agricultural center of Sicily. Around the middle of the 13th century took place under the leadership of Oddone de Camerana from Brescia immigration of Lombards from the territory between Tortona and the Oltrepò Pavese, who settled in Corleone.

Together with Palermo founded the city in an alliance against the reign of Charles I of Anjou and fought for the independence of Sicily. Since the Sicilian Vespers in 1282, the red and yellow colors of the flag of Sicily symbolize these two cities.

In the 17th century the population impoverished due to the crushing taxes imposed by the Spanish rulers and the city lost more and more important. In the 20th century Corleone came through the machinations of the Mafia always at the center of public interest.

Mafia

In the area Corleone was formed a particularly dangerous clan of the Mafia, who had many followers. Some of the leading mafia bosses were born here, the most popular Salvatore Riina (also known as Totò Riina ) and Bernardo Provenzano.

Many mafiosi emigrated to America to continue their businesses. In the struggle for power in the city Corleone murders were committed on behalf of the clan after the 2nd World War to the 300.

On 11 April 2006, Bernardo Provenzano, the head of the Sicilian mafia, was arrested after 40 years on the run near Corleone. The city then declared April 11 the Municipal Holiday and named a street in Via 11 Aprile at ( Street of the 11th April).

More

The town of Corleone was known by the novel The Godfather by Mario Puzo world. The novel from 1969, portrays the events surrounding the fictional Mafia boss Vito Corleone and his clan. 1972 was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the first part of an eponymous film trilogy with Marlon Brando and Al Pacino in the lead roles. Pacino's father came from Corleone.

In the film, the last name of the main character comes into existence so that the young Vito Andolini will be asked on immigration to the United States after his name, but does not answer. If you look at the pass of the boy confused the official name and place of birth, so that is Vito Andolini from Corleone Vito. In the book, Vito takes on the name to be permanently remember his Sicilian origin.

Attractions

• Corleone is also called the city of 100 churches. Worth seeing, especially the Cappuccini Convent and the Church of Sant'Agostino and San Domenico from the year 1547.
• Parish Church of San Martino: The year of manufacture is unknown. The church was extended several times, most recently in the 18th century. Inside the church there are numerous statues, including a statue of Saint Sebastian and a group of the Madonna from the 17th century.
• Church of Our Lady of Sorrows: It was completed in 1749 and has an elliptical floor plan.
• Church of Sant 'Andrea: It dates from the 14th century.
• Church of San Salvatore: It was completed in 1737, the church is a monastery.
• City Hall in Piazza Garibaldi: The clock tower dates from the 18th century.
• At the top of the two monoliths that characterize the environment Corleone, are the ruins of the fort and the Soprano Sottano - fort, formerly a bourbonisches prison where there is a Franciscan monastery since 1960.
• Museo Pippo Rizzo: It displays archaeological excavations from the area around Corleone. The Pietra Miliary from the year 252 BC is one of the most valuable treasures of the collection. Also worth seeing are the remains of a Roman mosaic dating from the 1st century AD
• The Museo Anti- Mafia was opened in 2001. It is under construction and is mainly photographs.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Bernardo da Corleone (1605-1667), canonized in 2001, the Capuchin monk
• Giuseppe Vasi (1710-1782), Vedutenstecher and graphic
• Nicholas Morello ( 1866/90-1916 ) Mafioso in the United States
• Peter Morello (1870-1930), Mafioso in the United States
• Vincent Terranova (1887-1922), Mafioso in the United States
• Ciro Terranova (1889-1938), Mafioso in the United States
• Jack Ignatius Dragna (1891-1956); Mafioso in the United States
• Michele Navarra (1905-1958), Mafia boss in Sicily
• Placido Rizzotto (1914-1948), trade union leaders and resistance fighters
• Luciano Liggio (1925-1993), Mafia boss in Sicily
• Salvatore Riina (born 1930), Mafia boss in Sicily
• Bernardo Provenzano (born 1933), Mafia boss in Sicily
• Salvatore Pacino, father of Al Pacino (born 1940), who emigrated before the birth of the son to New York
• Franco Merli (born 1957), film actor