Vittorio Sgarbi the current mayor of Salemi whom has put
Salemi on the global map has announced he may resign. Since his appointment in
July 2008 Sgarbi a popular Italian critic of, officially, art but also of
almost anything is regularly seen on national Italian TV expressing his views.
Regionally in Sicily
his campaign against wind turbines has generated opposition from the Sicilian “politicians”.
Locally in Salemi his key project “1 euro houses” has struggled to take off due
to local administration issues.
His good work is been attacked from every angle, only recently
he is under investigation by the Italian authorities for personal use of the council
car.
His patience is running out and stated “If in my official
role as the mayor I am to suffer from official investigations for such minor things
as the use of a council car that transports me to and fro then I will resign.”
His reaction has triggered national support for him to stay.
Some have said he must not give in to local “businessmen” or the campaign for a
democratic Sicily is over.
Editors comment:Sgarbi should have been aware that operating in Sicily was going to be
difficult. The car investigation is simply part of a campaign to harass him,
there has been and there will be more. If he quits then the campaigners win
their fight. He is doing a good job for Salemi and the image of Sicily. A man
of his calibre should not be deterred by local issues but he should see the
bigger picture and continue.We also need to remember that Sgarbi is a self promotion marketing guru and this could simply be a bluff to draw attention to his own brand and to put Salemi under the spotlight prior to the launch of his many initiatives that are finally due to be launched including the 1 euro house and the 150 year Garibaldi celebrations.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 03 February 2010 13:02 )
A weekend titled “Salaam Iran - Incontri/scontri sulla cultura persiana
a Salemi” dedicated to Persian culture in Salemi with
exhibitions, films and discussions on Iran offering visitors to learn and
understand about the Persian culture.
Following the recent Salemi council initiative to dedicate a
street in the historic town to the student’s of Tehran called “Via Studenti di Teheran”.Vittorio Sgarbi,
the mayor of Salemi, continues to promote
Salemi where historically the 3 religions of Christian, Jewish and Muslim lived
in peace.
Following the
success of today’s events Vittorio Sgarbi has announced that there is a project
to build a Mosque and to open an international school of mosaic
restoration in Salemi. Further details
will be announced by Sgarbi during the closing event of the weekend Sunday
evening in the mayor’s residence over a Sicilian-Persian dinner.
Artisitic director
of the weekend’s events are Franca Paoli and Dario Colombo.
Editor’s comment : Interestingly recently Sgarbi
also took the Salemi brand to Jerusalem. Maybe he is positioning himself as the
global peace maker and after Obama’s Nobel peace prize. It would be interesting
to see what Ahmadinejad has to say.
Salemi brand present in Jerusalem & Bethlehem in the Holy Land.
Vittorio Sgarbi the Salemi mayor continues to promote Salemi. The Salemi
brand will be present in Jeruslaem at the “Festival di Arti e mestieri Antichi
della tradizione italiana” that is the “Festival of Art and Ancient trades of
traditional Italy”.
Following successful recent religious events in Salemi such as the “Religious
Film Festival” and the “Jewsih & Israeli cultural festival” promoting the
traditional Jewish quarter “quartiere Giudecca” in Salemi, Sgarbi rebuilds on
Salemi’s Jewish roots present since 1492.
The festival in Jerusalem takes place from Monday 7th December
till Sunday 13th 2009.
Salemi will be present on Tuesday 8th December 2009 with the “Cene di San
Giuseppe”. The “Saint Joseph dinners” is a Salemi festival which takes place
every 19th March when church altars are decorated with handmade decorative
bread, wine, fruit and loral branches, symbolic representation of the last
supper.
Salemi 3 days dedicated to Israel and Jewish culture this
weekend 26/11 – 28/11/09.
Salemi once had the largest Jewish community in Sicily and
still today there is an area of the town known as the Jewish quarter “quartiere della Guidecca”. But why here in Salemi ? Organisers say that it will be an
occasion to reflect on the complexity and wealth of the Jewish community by
cultural, artistic and religious dialogue. During the festival there will be
films, exhibitions, conferences, musical & theatrical shows and religious
activities. All the events apart from those that fall on Saturday the Sabbath
are organised by the young Hebrew society of Italy.
Key highlights of the weekend are:
The inauguration of “Tehran Student Street” a street in
Salemi dedicated to the students of Tehran.
The launch of 2 new Salemi wine brands : 1: “Vittorio the nouveau Garibaldi” : A brand dedicated to the
current mayor as the new (novello wine) Garibaldi, whom united Italy in Salemi. 2: “Salemi 1860” :A
brand celebrating the year in which Garibaldi united Italy with his 1000 men
army. In fact production will be limited to 1000 numbered bottles.
