On the traces of the Florio Family in Sicily

Streets and squares of the historic centre – PALERMO

…the shop in question is the spicery (putìa) that in the novel is described in great detail in Via dei Materassai, but in the 19th-century Palermo reconstructed in the film corresponds to Via Roma. Many scenes were filmed in the surrounding area and in some symbolic places in the historic centre: from Quattro Canti (Piazza Vigliena) to Piazza Pretoria.

Palace of the Eagles – PALERMO

Right in Piazza Pretoria, next to what the people of Palermo call the “Fountain of Shame” because of the nudity of its statues, stands one of the buildings that has served as the backdrop for some “cult” scenes: Palazzo delle Aquile (or Pretorio). Currently Palermo’s City Hall, the building is accessible by guided tour. Built in 1470 by architect Giacomo Bonfante, it displays the statue of Santa Rosalia, the city’s patron saint, and is divided into sumptuous state rooms.

Gangi Valguarnera Palace – PALERMO

The story of the Florios in Sicily is set against the backdrop of several noble palaces, such as Palazzo Gangi Valguarnera, whose façade is the glittering family residence in the film, while the breathtaking interiors are those of Palazzo Mirto, in reality the aristocratic home of the Filangeri family.

Falconara Castle – BUTERA (CL)

Do you dream of sleeping in the same panoramic castle overlooking the sea that hosts Giulia (in the film Miriam Leone) while riots rage in Palermo? The Falconara Castle is waiting for you in Butera, in the province of Caltanissetta, to let you experience the unique emotion of staying in a 14th-century historical house.

Salt Pans – MARSALA

The story of the Florios in Sicily and their unstoppable economic rise as some of the most influential shipowners and traders in the Mediterranean passes through a symbolic place: the Salt Pans of Marsala. Here, it is possible to watch the manual extraction process of the PGI salt and enjoy a fiery sunset among the windmills and the Stagnone basins (where it is possible to take a “salt bath”).

Villino Nasi – TRAPANI

The charming Villino Nasi (or Casina Nasi) in Trapani is the headquarters of the “Capitaneria di Porto” seen in the film, with its unmistakable blue windows. In Art Nouveau style, it stands on the narrow strip of land between Torre di Ligny and the Colombaia Castle, opposite the Scoglio Palumbo. After visiting the city, we embark on the last exciting stage in the footsteps of the Florios in Sicily.

Tuna factory (Ex Establishment Florio) – FAVIGNANA

The tuna fishery of Favignana, officially called Ex Establishment Florio of the tuna fisheries of Favignana and Formica, is an ancient tuna fishery with an annexed factory for the conservation of the catch located on the island of Favignana, part of the Egadi Islands. At 32,000 square metres, it is one of the largest tuna fisheries in the Mediterranean. Besides having made the Florio fortune in Sicily, the tonnara is a place of memory that can be visited, with an Antiquarium and a Library.