The Triangle of Death – this is the name of an area near Palermo in Sicily, in which the city of Bagheria is also located.

This terrifying name is due to the dozens of murders committed by the Sicilian mafia in the 1980s in this area, as well as in the neighboring communities, Casteldaccia and Altavilla Militia in northern Sicily.

Organized crime has flourished in Bulgaria of 50,000 for decades, with the city still seen today as a stronghold of Cosa Nostra, as the Sicilian mafia is also known. In the past, Bulgaria has repeatedly hit the headlines for its heinous mafia killings – mobsters would bring their victims to an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city, torture them, kill them and then disintegrate their bodies in hydrochloric acid.

The traces of the mafia remain evident

Today extreme murders and executions in the middle of the street are a thing of the past – less blood is spilled and the mafia goes about its business more quietly. But at the same time, “Bugaria is still a city of the mafia”, says an activist from the Pio La Torre center in Palermo, which works against the mafia.

According to the activist, the mobsters, who have been involved in the construction industry for a long time, have also contributed to the alteration of the city’s image. “From the mountains to the sea, the city has concrete everywhere,” says the activist. In addition, many businessmen even today pay money for protection, while the mafia also controls the drug trade.

The enchanting Bulgaria

Bulgaria could have everything a city needs to become one of the most popular tourist destinations. A quarter of a mile from Palermo by train, Bagheria is located on a dreamy coast, has a rich cultural heritage, as well as a special culinary tradition with local fish and seafood.

But the influence of criminals does not allow the city to develop. Although the city is trying to fight back, for example confiscating the properties of the mafia and giving them to the community, the activist from Palermo considers that “our fight is almost in vain”. The mafia feels comfortable in the city and continues its business as usual.

From a suburb for the aristocrats, a stronghold of the mafia

Bagheria was originally founded as a suburb of Palermo, a place where the aristocrats of the area could go for their summer holidays. That is why the city still has some aristocratic country houses, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, such as Villa Palagonia and Villa Trambia.

After World War II the mafia focused on profiteering in the construction industry, which developed into one of the most important areas for its activities, with criminals aiming to make substantial profits from the sale of concrete. Today even the center of Bagheria with its baroque villas is full of concrete – many buildings have been converted into houses and apartments.

Maraini, who now lives in Rome, remembers what the view around Villa Valguarnera once looked like. “But today the view is obstructed by the houses that have been built all around without any logic, for the sake of which trees, parks, gardens and old buildings have been sacrificed.” Due to uncritical construction the beauty of Maraini’s birthplace was gradually destroyed.

According to estimates, up to 2 million illegal buildings have been built in Sicily. The Italian statistical agency has found that in Sicily, for every 100 buildings that were built legally, there are 48 that were built without prior permission.

In the meantime, the mafia has radically changed its modus operandi. Since the 1990s, Cosa Nostra has lost much of its power, experts say. In Bulgaria, the mafia has for decades been closely linked to the local political leadership, with its activities mainly focused on the construction and agricultural sectors. Today things have changed. “The core of the mafia’s activities is the drug trade and extortion,” points out activist from the center Pio La Torre.

Fight against organized crime

In many big cities, hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets every year to demonstrate against organized crime. In other areas, centers such as Pio La Torre or even individual activists are leading the fight against the mafia, organizing demonstrations or refusing to give in to the “protection” sold by local mobsters. And they often pay dearly for this: a businessman who dared to do something like this in Bulgaria found his car engulfed in flames shortly afterwards.

However, this constant fight against the mafia is beginning to weaken the morale of many citizens. According to a poll on behalf of the Pio La Torre center, in which Italian students participated, only one in five students believe that the mafia can be defeated. However, activists are not ready to give up. The battle against the mafia continues.

Edited by: Giorgos Passas