Stories from Palermo · Italy

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred near Sicily, Italy, on June 13, 2026, at 17:28 UTC. The earthquake registered a depth of 15.34 km. A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck Sicily, according to seismic monitoring agencies.

On May 23, 34 years ago, the mafia killed Giovanni Falcone, his wife, and his escort. The event is remembered for the mafia's actions against his legacy.

Tourism centered around volcanoes is thriving in Sicily.

A film based on true events in early 1990s Sicily, titled 'Rita,' depicts a 17-year-old named Rita defying the Mafia after her father and brother are killed. She breaks the code of silence to testify against the family business.

Sicily is experiencing a heatwave, with African air masses bringing unusually hot temperatures for May. This weather pattern is creating a stark contrast with cooler conditions in northern Italy.

Stefano Bonaccini, President of the Democratic Party (PD) and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), is scheduled to participate in a panel discussion at L'Ars. Emanuele Lavagna will moderate the panel.

Alessandro Scarlatti, a composer from the Italian school of opera, was born in Palermo on May 2, 1660. Palermo was then part of the Kingdom of Sicily. Scarlatti studied in Rome, where he presented his first opera. This work impressed Queen Christina of Sweden.

A crack cocaine emergency is affecting Palermo, where more than 4,000 young people are reported to be addicted. Sicilian mothers have formed an association named Lotta delle famiglie per indipendenza dalla dipendenza to support parents with children addicted to crack cocaine.

The Italo-Belga real estate company, which has managed the Mondello beach for 114 years, received an injunction following alleged mafia infiltration. The injunction was issued after reports of criminal links surfaced in November.

The CGL confederation is holding its third national assembly against mafia and corruption in Palermo. The two-day event began on Tuesday. The assembly aims to address issues of mafia influence and corruption.