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60-535: The Morello family traces back to Corleone , Sicily . In 1865, Calogero Morello married Angelina Piazza who gave birth to two children: Giuseppe Morello (born May 2, 1867) and Maria Morello-Lima (née Morello, born c.  1869 ). Calogero Morello died in 1872, and one year later Piazza remarried to Bernardo Terranova. The new marriage produced five children: three sons, Vincenzo (born 1886), Ciro (born 1888) and Nicolo (born 1890), and two daughters, Lucia (born 1877) and Salvatrice (born 1880). Critchley mentions

120-819: A building the Morellos were using in Highland, New York , as a front for their counterfeiting operation and recovered a large amount of American and Canadian counterfeit bills. After letters were found by Black Hand victims from New Orleans , fifteen members of the Morellos were arrested, including bosses Giuseppe Morello and Ignazio Lupo and member Pasquale Vassi, who possessed $ 1,200 worth of counterfeit money. The trials began on January 26, 1910, and ended on February 19 with all members involved convicted, including Morello and Lupo, who were sentenced to 30 and 25 years, respectively, at Atlanta Federal Prison . With Giuseppe Morello 's and Lupo's convictions, Nicholas "Nick" Terranova ,

180-617: A captain within the family, took advantage of its weakened status and broke off, forming his own separate mafia famiglia based mostly in the Bronx. Nick Terranova made an effort to unify much of the Italian underworld in the face of these problems. His efforts to unify the Sicilian mafiosi and the Neapolitan camorristi during the early 1910s were unsuccessful despite his best efforts. During this time,

240-557: A meeting arranged at a Navy Street café owned by camorrista Alessandro Vollero . However, upon arriving on September 7, 1916, Morello was ambushed by five members of the Brooklyn Camorra group and killed along with bodyguard Charles Ubriaco . While the loss of the Morello family's senior leader was a blow to the Mafia, Morano was quickly charged with Nick Morello's murder after two members of

300-522: A more gentle manner, down to the Belice. Within the territory of Corleone, a short walk from the historic center of the city, is the "Natural Park of the cascade of the two fortresses." After going through a series of narrow streets in the district of San Giuliano visitors come to the front of a small church dedicated to Our Lady of the Two Fortresses. To the left of this church winds a path that leads between

360-530: A mountain that rises to about 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), and is about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from today's town. The site of Pietralunga was occupied from the final Neolithic Period to the Bronze Age (the presence of a glass bell decorated in pointillé) while the site of The Old One has been inhabited since the Middle Ages (the presence of an imposing castle with towers has recently been identified). However,

420-633: A possible third sister of the Terranovas, Rosalia Lomonte (1892 – October 14, 1915). In 1892, Giuseppe Morello emigrated to the United States. On March 8, 1893, Giuseppe's family arrived in New York: his wife Maria Rosa Marvalisi, his mother Angelina Piazza, his stepfather Bernardo Terranova, his half-brothers Ciro, Nicolo, and Vincenzo, and his half-sister Rosalia. The Morello-Terranova family lived in New York for

480-690: A team of volunteers ( Picciotti , Sicilian for "boys"), led by Ferdinando Firmaturi , joined the march of Garibaldi in Palermo. The nineteenth century ended with the social action by Bernardino Verro , a leader of the social movement Fasci Siciliani . After founding the Fascio of Corleone on April 3, 1893, he founded the new Farm Lease that was entered into between farmers and agricultural Sicilian gabelloti in Congress on July 30, 1893, held in Corleone—so much so that

540-638: A while before moving to Louisiana, then Texas, and by 1896 the family was back in New York City. The brothers returned to New York and became known as the 107th Street Mob (sometimes called the Morello Gang ) dominating East Harlem , Manhattan , and parts of the Bronx . Giuseppe Morello's strongest ally was Ignazio Lupo , a mobster who controlled Little Italy, Manhattan . On December 23, 1903, Lupo married Morello's half sister, Salvatrice Terranova. The Morello-Lupo alliance continued to prosper in 1903, when

600-520: A wooden statue representing San Filippo d'Agira from the 17th century, a 16th-century statue representing San Biagio ( Saint Blaise ) and a fine marble panel depicting the Baptism of Christ (also from this period). The Chiesa dell'Addolorata is from the 18th century, dedicated to the Basilian abbot and patron saint San Leoluca The Chiesa di Santa Rosalia , and the small Sant'Andrea (the latter two from

660-623: Is an Italian town and comune of roughly 11,158 inhabitants in the Metropolitan City of Palermo , in Sicily . Several Mafia bosses have come from Corleone, including Tommy Gagliano , Gaetano Reina , Jack Dragna , Giuseppe Morello , Michele Navarra , Luciano Leggio , Leoluca Bagarella , Salvatore Riina and Bernardo Provenzano . It is also the birthplace of several fictional characters in Mario Puzo 's 1969 novel The Godfather , including

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720-460: Is the village of Ficuzza , an enclave in the municipal territory of Monreale. Work on the Chiesa Madre ("Mother Church"), dedicated to the 4th-century French bishop Saint Martin of Tours , started in the late 14th century. Its appearance today has been influenced by numerous changes and renovations. The interior has a nave and aisles divided into various chapels containing artwork, including

780-465: The Italian occupation of Ethiopia . Since World War II , Corleone has become notorious for being home to several dangerous bandits and mobsters (including: Michele Navarra , Luciano Leggio , Bernardo Provenzano , Salvatore Riina and his brothers-in-law Calogero and Leoluca Bagarella ) who became the protagonists of a violent and bloody mafia power struggle. The mayor of Palermo, Vito Ciancimino ,

840-668: The Lucchese crime family in New York City . He led the family until his murder on February 26, 1930, on the orders of Joe Masseria . Reina was born on September 27, 1889, in Corleone , Sicily, to Giacomo Reina and Carmela Rumore. In the early 1900s, the Reina family moved to New York City and settled on 107th Street in East Harlem . Reina along with his brother Antonio began working with members of

900-598: The Morello crime family . He married Angelina Olivera, and the couple had nine children; five sons, Giacomo, became a member of the Lucchese family, Henry, Sam, John and Bernard, and four daughters, Anna, Carmela "Mildred" Valachi, married Joe Valachi in 1932, Rose Bongrieco and Lucy Sterling. The family lived in a home on Rochambeau Avenue in the Norwood , section of the Bronx . In November 1914, wealthy poultryman Barnet Baff

960-570: The Sicilian Cunigghiuni originated. The modern name originates from 1556. Another belief is that the name derives from an Arab fighter named Kurliyun (cf. Coeur Leon , "Lionheart"), who conquered it for the Aghlabids in 840. The territory of Corleone has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Recent research has identified several settlements distributed around two main areas: Pietralunga and The Old One ( La Vecchia ). This name refers to

1020-567: The film series , various members of the Corleone family visit the town. In the films, the towns of Savoca and Forza d'Agrò were used as locations for those scenes set in Corleone. Michael Corleone is played by Al Pacino , whose real-life maternal grandparents were Corleonese. The adaptation of the town's name into the name of a criminal gang leader in The Godfather is, however, predated by Graham Greene 's 1938 novel Brighton Rock , which

1080-422: The 17th century), all with important frescoes and paintings, are notable landmarks. The Santuario della Madonna del Rosario di Tagliavia , a religious building from the 19th century, is now a destination for pilgrims on Ascension Day . The CIDMA museum ( Centro Internazionale di Documentazione sulla Mafia e del Movimento Antimafia ) was inaugurated on 12 December 2000, in the presence of the highest authorities of

1140-549: The 1910s, Reina, along with Salvatore D'Aquila and Joe Masseria , split off to form their own families. Thus, by 1920, he ruled as boss of his own crime family controlling criminal operations in The Bronx and parts of East Harlem. His crime family held a monopoly over the ice box distribution in The Bronx. Reina's underboss was Tommy Gagliano , a former Morello gang member. In the late 1920s, Reina formed an alliance with Masseria, who had absorbed into his now powerful organization

1200-466: The 1915 murder of Gallucci, the alliance between the Morellos and the East Harlem camorristi ended. The Brooklyn camorristi made plans to eliminate the mafiosi from Manhattan. In early 1916, Camorra boss Pellegrino Morano and lieutenant Vincenzo Paragallo began moving into Morello territory. After six months of fighting, Morano offered a truce to end the stalemate. Mafia boss Nick Morello agreed to

1260-565: The Bourbons in the surrounding cities until he was arrested and then shot in Mezzojuso on December 20, 1856. On May 27, 1860, the city was the scene of a fierce battle between followers of Giuseppe Garibaldi , led by Colonel Vincenzo Giordano Orsini , and the bulk of the Bourbon army led by General Von Meckel, which had been diverted from Palermo via a ploy hatched by the same Garibaldi. On that occasion,

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1320-545: The CIDMA. Along the road that connects Corleone with Ficuzza , following the old railway line connecting Palermo to San Carlo (a hamlet of Chiusa Sclafani ) (now the bike path), is an old bridge where the Frattina River streams between the limestone rocks. The erosive action of water has produced karst topography over time forming chasms, reels and small waterfalls where the abundant water first disappears and then reappears in

1380-620: The Camorra group, Tony Notoro and Ralph Daniello , contacted New York police and implicated Morano and Alessandro Vollero, revealing the war between the Sicilian and Neapolitan gangs. Both Morano and Vollero, after being denied help from New York detective Michael Mealli, along with the remaining leaders of the camorristi were convicted of murder and imprisoned, effectively ending the Mafia-Camorra War. The Mafia–Camorra war ended in 1917, and Terranova brothers Vincenzo and Ciro kept control of

1440-481: The Claremont section of the Bronx (other sources claim he was leaving his aunt's apartment after dinner) when he was ambushed (some suspect Vito Genovese while others suspect Joseph Pinzolo ) and shot in the head with a double barreled shotgun, instantly killing him. The two hit men left the weapon under a parked car and escaped. On his body, police found a handgun and $ 804 in cash. Reina's death helped lead to

1500-714: The Messages, the Room of Pain and the final room dedicated to Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa , an Italian general who campaigned against terrorism and was assassinated by the Mafia. The first room contains Maxi-Trial documents which marked a milestone in the fight against Cosa Nostra . The documents, given to Corleone by the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Palermo, are a testimony to the work of magistrates like Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino who paid with their lives for their commitment to

1560-483: The Morellos had allied with powerful and prominent East Harlem businessmen and camorristi , including Giosue Gallucci , who possessed local political connections, and the Lamonti brothers. Gaetano "Thomas" Lamonti and brother Fortunato "Charles" Lamonti were known as cousins of the Morellos and owned a feed store down the street from the famous Murder Stable owned by Ignazio Lupo . After the 1914 murder of Charles Lamonti and

1620-469: The Muslims of Corleone as a reason for his inability to send a large crusader army to Jerusalem. To this day the rock formation Castello Soprano , has a Saracen lookout tower on top of it. While the town's other rock formation, Castello Sottano , did not preserve its own Saracen fortification, it is still also known as Castello di Saraceni . Nearly a century later, in 1180, it was enfeoffed (deeded) to

1680-755: The Republic, including the President of the Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and the deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Pino Arlacchi , on behalf of Secretary-General Kofi Annan . The CIDMA intends to pursue "Culture, Progress and Legality" as its objectives. CIDMA has several rooms for visitors: Room of the Folders of the Maxi Trial ( Italian : Maxiprocesso di Palermo ), the Room of

1740-940: The Rocca di Maschi, the Castello Soprano and the Castello Sottano. Corleone is located at 542 metres (1,778 ft) above sea level. The etymology of the name is uncertain, undergoing various modifications from the Ancient Greek Kouroullounè to the Siculo-Arabic Qurlayun of the Emirate of Sicily , from Latin Curilionum to the Norman Coraigliòn , from the Aragonese Conillon , Coniglione from which

1800-546: The biggest part of the settlement was built in the archaic and classical period. "A few materials relating to the Hellenistic period found at the site have supported the identification of the ancient town situated on the Old One with the ancient town of Schera, cited by Cicero , Cluverio and Ptolemy , although the archaeological remains on which this theory is based are still too unstable. (D'Angelo - Spatafora). In 840, Corleone

1860-554: The body of Benedetto Madonia, brother-in-law to police informant Giuseppe DiPrimo (de Priemo), was found in a barrel after being brutally tortured. A United States Secret Service detective, who had been investigating the counterfeiting ring, traced the man to a restaurant where he was seen with Morello crime family boss, Ignazio Lupo, along with associate and hitman, Tommaso "The Ox" Petto . New York detective Joseph Petrosino later confirmed Madonia's identity after visiting DiPrimo at Sing Sing Prison . A letter by Madonia seeking to leave

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1920-482: The boulders and lush vegetation. Of considerable size are the "pots of the Giants", i.e. cylindrical and deep holes where the water takes on a swirling pattern. Old mulberry trees, oranges, pomegranates, and figs are living testimony of the site where a mill once stood. In the section where the slope is gentler, clear water pools have formed allowing visitors to bathe surrounded by bracken, maidenhair ferns, willows and elms, in

1980-408: The cause-effect relationships that exist between the crimes and the consequences they produce in the lives of affected families and the entire community. The room Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa is dedicated to General Dalla Chiesa. It contains photos of some of the main bosses of the Mafia placed side by side with those in the legal system who fought organized crime. Local guides also offer tours through

2040-445: The city began to assume the title of "peasant capital". Corleone contributed to World War I with 105 deaths and numerous injuries on the field. After World War II , a peasant movement occupied vacant lands, led by trade unionist Placido Rizzotto , who was killed by the Mafia. In 1943, the Duke of Aosta created the title of Count of Corleone, awarded to Arturo Faini for his valour during

2100-457: The city was sold to the jurist Joseph Sgarlata, who then accepted the redemption upon payment. Remarkable demographic growth was reported in the 15th and 16th centuries, following the arrival of several religious orders. Corleone contributed to the events of the Unification of Italy through Francesco Bentivegna who, after participating in the riots of 1848, captained an insurrection against

2160-425: The company of tortoise, fish, and colorful dragonflies. The walls that enclose the slopes are clad in rock plants of great botanical interest such as wood spurge, cabbage mountain, the carnation, and capers. Among the crevices of the rock shelter are pigeons, jackdaws, and birds of prey such as kestrels and the peregrine falcon. Tours take visitors up to the top of the gorge where the Frattina River continues to flow, in

2220-467: The eponymous Vito (Andolini) Corleone . The local mafia clan, the Corleonesi , led the Mafia in the 1980s and 1990s, and were the most violent and ruthless group ever to take control of the organization. Corleone municipality has an area of 22,912 hectares (56,620 acres) with a population density of 49 inhabitants per square kilometer. It is located in an inland area of the mountain, in the valley between

2280-399: The family. Many former Brooklyn Camorra members joined the Morello family; Umberto Valenti was one of new members. One year earlier in 1916, Giuseppe Masseria was released from prison after serving three years for burglary of a Bowery pawnshop and became a top member in the family. In 1918, Ciro Terranova was tried for the murders of gambling bosses Charles Lombardi and Joe DiMarco; the case

2340-435: The fight against the Mafia. Among the folders there are the confessions of the famous pentito ("repentant") Tommaso Buscetta to Judge Falcone. In the Room of the Messages, visitors may see the photos of the well-known, Sicilian photographer Letizia Battaglia who had the courage to go on site to capture tragic photographs of Mafia murders. She was able to capture significant details that made her shots documents detailing

2400-486: The group began a major counterfeiting ring with powerful Sicilian mafioso Don Vito Cascio Ferro , printing $ 5 bills in Sicily and smuggling them into the United States. Many of the later " barrel murders ", particularly that of Giuseppe "Joe" Catania, Sr. (whose body was found in July 1902), were thought to have been committed by the Morellos, who employed numerous members of the counterfeiting operation. On April 13, 1903,

2460-645: The migration of the inhabitants from the Po Valley continued until the beginning of the Sicilian Vespers in 1282. Another Camerana, named Boniface, distinguished himself in the revolution of the Sicilian Vespers . He led the insurrection against the Angevins with three thousand people from Corleone, in alliance with the city of Palermo . In recognition, the Senate of Palermo called Corleone soror mea (my sister). During

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2520-519: The murder methods used by the Mafia in the 1970s–1980s. The different positions of the bodies allow visitors to reconstruct the Mafia's strategy. The Room of Pain houses a permanent exhibition of Shobha, Letizia Battaglia's daughter, who followed in her mother's footsteps, taking photos of the dismay, helplessness, and despair felt by those who have lost someone at the hands of the Mafia. In the room there are also photos of Letizia Battaglia documenting Mafia crimes. This approach allows visitors to understand

2580-454: The new diocese of Monreale . In this period, Corleone was largely repopulated by Ghibellines from Alessandria (modern Piedmont), Brescia and elsewhere— "Lombards" led by Oddone de Camerana. The migrations were encouraged by Emperor Frederick II of Sicily , to strengthen his position against the Guelphs . In 1249, however, he revoked the privilege and gave the city to the royal property, though

2640-425: The organization was found in a search of Madonia's house. With this evidence, several mafiosi were arrested including Morello, Lupo, Petto, and restaurant owner Pietro Inzarillo, as well as several other members. However, the charges were later dropped after witnesses changed their statements. The Morello family had consolidated their hold on Upper Manhattan. Additionally, on November 15, 1909, New York police raided

2700-421: The poplars, willows, and elms to the falls. Seated on the ancient square blocks in the shade of mulberry, walnut and ash trees, visitors have an unimpeded view of the waterfall. The flow of the water in the river has formed a large pool among rocks through its erosive action. The canyon contains eroded, yellow-green glauconitic rocks occupied by vegetation. The name of the town was used as the adopted surname of

2760-415: The reign of Frederick IV of Sicily, called The Simple, the city successfully rebelled against the crown but was recaptured in 1355. Corleone was besieged from Ventimiglia in 1358. During the reign of the four vicars, Corleone became the property of the powerful Chiaramonte family, but in 1391 was donated by Mary Queen of Sicily to Berardo Queralt, canon of Lerida, but he never took possession. Instead, it

2820-574: The remnants of the much weakened Morello family . In 1925, Salvatore Maranzano arrived in New York City and took over the Castellammare family that operated out of the Williamsburg, Brooklyn . Reina switched sides and began supporting Maranzano. Masseria learned of Reina's betrayal and ordered Charles "Lucky" Luciano to arrange Reina's murder. On the evening of February 26, 1930, Reina left his mistress Marie Ennis' apartment on Sheridan Avenue in

2880-419: The rising power, the former captain and current ally of the Morello's, Giuseppe Masseria. First attempts failed and a war was on. On December 29, 1921, Masseria's men murdered Valenti's ally Salvatore Muaro on Chrystie Street. Then Valenti had Vincent Terranova murdered, effectively taking out the head of the Morello family. On May 8, 1922, while Terranova was in front of his home at 116th Street and 2nd Avenue, he

2940-455: The title character in Mario Puzo 's book and Francis Ford Coppola 's film The Godfather . In the novel, Vito Andolini emigrates from the village of Corleone and adopts his birthplace's name as his own surname. In the cinematic release of The Godfather Part II , young Vito, shy and unable to speak English, cannot respond when asked for his proper name, and is given the surname Corleone by an immigration official at Ellis Island . Throughout

3000-642: The title of Animosa Civitas (brave city). However, in 1440 Corleone was sold to Federico Ventimiglia for 19,000 florins. This concession was revoked in May 1447 by King Alfonso, to be resold in the same year to a certain John of Bologna . In 1452 the city was finally granted to attorney James Pilaya. In 1516, Corleone joined the revolutionary movements of Palermo against the Viceroy Moncada . The revolt of Corleone, led by Fabio La Porta, received popular support as its purpose

3060-551: The youngest of the three Terranova brothers, took over the family with the aid of his older brothers, Vincenzo and Ciro. The family was involved in many criminal activities from East Harlem to Greenwich Village . Soon after opening the Venezia Restaurant, the club became a popular hangout for the city's underworld. Without Joseph Morello and Lupo the Wolf at the helm, the Morellos' power was waning. During this time, Gaetano Reina ,

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3120-415: Was also a mosque , called Masgid al-Barid, within the town. Following the large-scale anti-Muslim attacks by Lombard settlers in eastern Sicily in 1161 led by future King of Sicily, Tancred , the town became a refuge for many fleeing Muslims. In 1208, a Muslim uprising succeeded in retaking the town from Christian rule. In 1222, while speaking with the pope, Frederick II of Sicily cited the need to fight

3180-617: Was also born in Corleone and linked to the Corleone clan. Located in the southwestern area of its province, the municipality of Corleone has an area of 229.46 square kilometers (88.60 sq mi) and is located in a basin in a mountainous inland area, approximately 600 metres (2,000 feet) above sea level, 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) south of the prominent Rocca Busambra . It borders the municipalities of Bisacquino , Campofelice di Fitalia , Campofiorito , Contessa Entellina , Chiusa Sclafani , Godrano , Mezzojuso , Monreale , Palazzo Adriano , Prizzi and Roccamena . Its only hamlet ( Frazione )

3240-709: Was conquered by the North African Aghlabids during the Muslim conquest of Sicily . It was during the Muslim occupation that it gained economic, military and strategic importance. In 1080 the city was conquered by the Normans, and in 1095 it was annexed to the Diocese of Palermo . Even in the 1170s it was recorded that over 80% of the population of the area was Muslim and that many bore Arabo-Islamic names derived from Greek. There

3300-411: Was later dismissed. In 1920, both Giuseppe Morello and Ignazio Lupo were released from prison so their former captain, now Manhattan Mafia boss, Salvatore D'Aquila , sensing his power to be threatened by their return, ordered their murders. One of D'Aquila's men, Umberto Valenti , had also run afoul of his boss and was under threat of death. To re-ingratiate himself with D'Aquila, Valenti would take out

3360-453: Was made into a popular film in 1947. The leading character crosses the rival gang leader "Colleoni" in the English seaside town of Brighton. Gaetano Reina Gaetano Reina ( Italian: [ɡaeˈtaːno reˈiːna] ; September 27, 1889 – February 26, 1930) was an Italian-American gangster . He was an early American Mafia boss who was the founder of what has for many years been called

3420-419: Was murdered by competitors in the poultry industry who had hired Sicilian gunmen to commit the crime. At one point, Reina and Jack Dragna were implicated as the actual gunmen; however, it was later determined they were merely red herrings. Reina had long been a captain in the Morello family, being in charge of many men and operations within the Morello organization. As the Morello family fell into chaos during

3480-512: Was occupied by Nicholas Peralta, vicar William's son, but King Martin the Younger returned it to the royal property, confirming its privileges in 1397 and giving it some tax relief. In March 1434, King Alfonso the Magnanimous went to Corleone and conceded some tolls to the city with the aim of restoring the walls and to meet other needs, promising also the inalienability of the city to which he gave

3540-626: Was shot by a gunman from a moving car. Masseria ordered his men to murder Valenti and his bodyguard Silva Tagliagamba ; they ambushed Valenti and Tagliabamba at Grande and Mulberry Streets in Manhattan shooting Tagliabamba but Valenti escaped. On August 11, 1922, Masseria's men (supposedly including a young Charlie Luciano ) murdered Valenti ending the conflict. Masseria became the boss of the Morello family, and Giuseppe Morello became his underboss. Corleone Corleone ( Italian: [korleˈoːne] ; Sicilian : Cunigghiuni [kʊnɪɟˈɟuːnɪ] or Curliuni [kʊɾlɪˈuːnɪ] )

3600-492: Was the request for tax relief. However, the revolt was violently repressed by the viceroy's troops led by the Vicar General Gerardo Bonanno. Towards the end of the same century, social conditions in the city worsened further because of the plague of 1575–77 and the famine of 1592. On June 3, 1625, Corleone was sold, with other cities, to some Genoese merchants from whom Corleone redeemed itself upon payment of 15,200 florins. The terms of sale were, however, very serious. In 1648,

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