Commemoration of the Portella della Ginestra Massacre

A May Day like no other

In Piana degli Albanesi, a small Arbëreshë town in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, May 1st is more than just Labor Day: it is the day Sicily remembers one of the most painful chapters in its history. On the Portella della Ginestra plateau, located between the municipalities of Piana degli Albanesi, San Giuseppe Jato, and San Cipirello, the commemoration of the May 1st, 1947, massacre is held annually, marking the day when gunfire opened on a festive crowd, leaving eleven dead and dozens wounded.

What happened in 1947

That morning, about two thousand workers had gathered at Portella to celebrate the holiday and protest against the latifundia system, just days after the People's Bloc victory in the regional elections of April 20, 1947. During the rally, armed men positioned on the heights opened fire on the defenseless crowd. Eleven people lost their lives, including three children: Margherita Clesceri, Giorgio Cusenza, Giovanni Megna, Francesco Vicari, Vito Allotta, Serafino Lascari, Filippo Di Salvo, Giuseppe Di Maggio, Castrense Intravaia, Giovanni Grifò, and little eight-year-old Vincenzina La Fata. The 1952 verdict attributed the material responsibility to the Salvatore Giuliano gang, but the truth regarding the masterminds remained controversial for a long time.

The memorial and the Sasso di Barbato

Today, a memorial stands at the site of the massacre, built between 1979 and 1980 based on a design by Ettore de Conciliis: a land art piece consisting of a long dry-stone wall and large local boulders. On one of them, the famous Sasso di Barbato—named because the trade unionist Nicola Barbato used it to address farmers as early as the beginning of the 20th century—the names of the victims are engraved. The site is recognized as a place of cultural interest by the Sicilian Region.

How the commemoration takes place

The day follows a well-established ritual. In the morning, a commemoration is held at the Piana degli Albanesi cemetery, with the laying of a wreath and the participation of the municipal administration and the Eparchy. This is followed by a gathering at the Casa del Popolo on Via Giorgio Kastriota, from which the procession departs, led by the Mezzojuso marching band. Upon reaching the memorial, the ceremony begins with a minute of silence and the reading of the eleven victims' names, followed by speeches from union representatives and the closing rally.

Memory and current relevance

Historically organized by the CGIL of Palermo, the event intertwines the memory of the massacre with themes of dignified work, construction site safety, peace, and the implementation of the Constitution. Over the years, national union leaders, representatives of the ANPI, and institutional figures have participated. For Piana degli Albanesi and all of Sicily, Portella della Ginestra remains the symbol of a May Day that unites reflection, civic engagement, and social advocacy.