Salvuccio Giuseppe Salvatore Riina, the son of the notorious Cosa Nostra boss Salvatore “Totò” Riina, has sparked outrage in the Sicilian town of Corleone with a social media post. On Ferragosto, a national holiday in Italy, Riina wished his followers a “happy holiday” from an address that used to be the Riina family’s home, now renamed Via Terranova in honour of anti-mafia judge Cesare Terranova.
The post, which referenced the old address “via Scorsone,” was condemned by local officials, including Corleone’s newly elected mayor, Walter Rà. The mayor described Riina’s message as “cowardly” and emphasized that the town has moved beyond its dark past. The post was later edited to remove the reference to the old address.
Totò Riina, known as “the Beast,” died in prison in 2017 after being convicted of numerous crimes, including the murders of anti-mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino. Salvuccio Riina, who returned to Corleone in 2023 after serving nearly nine years in prison for mafia-related crimes, had been previously expelled from the town to protect its reputation.
Corleone’s current administration condemned Riina’s social media message as a “vile attack” on the state and institutions, underscoring the town’s efforts to shed its mafia image. Despite this, Salvuccio Riina’s actions, including his controversial book “Riina Family Life,” continue to stir controversy.
Riina’s post-wedding celebration in Corleone and his previous attempts to capitalize on his family’s notorious name have been met with local resistance. The town remains committed to distancing itself from its mafia-linked past and focusing on its positive attributes, such as history, culture, and legality.
