What's in a Name? In Corleone, Sicily, a Lot

Reuters ^ | Tue, Nov 25, 2003 | Philip Pullella

[presidio9]

ROME (Reuters) - Quick. What comes to mind when you hear the word Corleone?

If you said Mafia, some people in the Sicilian town think that may be part of the problem and not the solution.

Local lawyer Antonio Di Lorenzo began a signature drive on Tuesday to change the name of the hill town south of Palermo made famous by "The Godfather" books and films of the 1970s.

He thinks enough is enough and wants the city's name changed to protect the innocent, so to speak. But not everyone agrees.

"Some people come all the way from countries such as Denmark to get married here so they can say they got married in a Mafia town," he told Reuters by telephone.

"It's an historic illness that we have to cure. As an honest citizen, I can't tolerate this kind of stuff. If this is the problem, let's change the name," he said.

Corleone was made famous in the celluloid world by Don Vito Corleone, played at different ages by Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro. But it is the real-life birthplace of a number of top Mafia bosses whose ruthless bloodletting make the film look tame by comparison.

They include Toto Riina, who ruled the Mafia supreme until his arrest in 1993, and his heir-apparent Bernardo Provenzano, who has been on the run for four decades.

Di Lorenzo said Corleone should revert to its earlier name, Cuor di Leone (Lion Heart), which is what it was called centuries ago. He wants an historical commission to decide.

"This is pure folly, total rubbish," Corleone Mayor Nicolo Nicolosi told Reuters by telephone.

"Corleone and its people must take advantage of its fame to seek positive things, such as the fight against the Mafia and the economic and cultural advantage of everyone here," he said.

"Our notoriety can help our rebirth," he said.

Even some of the most active anti-Mafia campaigners have ridiculed Di Lorenzo's scheme.

"I think the only signatures he will get are his own and that of his wife," said Dino Paternostro, editor of the local anti-Mafia newspaper Citta Nuove.

"It's the Mafiosi who should be ashamed of the name they have given to the city, not the honest working people," he said.

[presidio9]

bada ping

[Mr.Clark]

Toto Riina was the worst, he makes Michael and the gang look like choir boys.

[jdege]

Corleone is awfully close to "Couer-de-Leon", and I'd always figured it was named after Richard I, "The Lion Hearted".

Remember - Sicily, like England, had been conquered by the Normans (beginning in 1062, but not completed until 1091).

[presidio9]

Toto Riina was the worst, he makes Michael and the gang look like choir boys.

Just as soon as they get that name change, the town can wipe its hands of mafia cosa nostra influences for ever, right?

[IronJack]

What comes to mind when you hear the word Corleone?

Italianization of the French "Coeur d'Leon"?

[SevenofNine]

OHH rack ittt

Come on City fathers don't change the name

You realize that your town is most famous town in the world DAMN Vito came from that town

[Consort]

Sicily

[stanz]

You would think they'd be happy to have tourists.

[presidio9]

[joesnuffy]

Antonio Di Lorenzo...did he change his name from Antonio Andolini?

[stanz]

Nice shot. I wouldn't think of including it in my Italian vacation plans unless I had relatives there. But then again, if you're Italian, they're all your relatives. I know.

[SevenofNine]

Yeah I still don't understand why they want the change the name

I don't know about you guys come from the town that gave the world Godfather is pretty cool

[Filibuster_60]

Richard Lionheart was Angevin not Norman, but I bet it's named after him 'cause he stopped over on the Crusade.

[discostu]

I think the problem here is they haven't discovered proper American merchandising techniques, with a few t-shirt kioskes being Corleone could be a solid source of income. They should have an annual convention like the place used for The Village too (or like Roswell NM). Give some Godfather names to dishes at the local restaurants. Infinite possibilities for money.

[Consort]

Palermo
Province

[byrony]

"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Di Lorenzo said Corleone should revert to its earlier name, Cuor di Leone (Lion Heart), which is what it was called centuries ago. He wants an historical commission to decide.

The historical commission will probably change the town's name to "Gotti" or "Gambino".

[Don Corleone]

bada ping

An offer that I cannot refuse!

[Consort]

"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."

Yes, they could name the town Cannoli and that could be the town motto.