Before you stands the Obelisco Alle Tredici Vittime. Its stark silhouette against the Palermo sky tells a story of rebellion and sacrifice. This monument isn’t just stone and metal. It’s a chilling reminder of thirteen men. They dared to challenge the Bourbon monarchy in 1860.
Their failed plot the Gancia Revolt began in the Santa Maria della Gancia convent. Thirty conspirators hid weapons there. A Franciscan friar betrayed them. The ensuing clash left nearly twenty dead. Thirteen rebels were captured. Two miraculously escaped. They hid among the corpses. They then tunneled through a wall. This escape route is still marked. Local prostitutes distracted the Bourbon soldiers. This helped the two men escape.
The thirteen captured men were taken to Castellamare castle. Fearing further revolts and Garibaldi’s advance the authorities ordered their execution. No trial was held. Blindfolded they were led to Porta San Giorgio. Two volleys of gunfire ended the lives of twelve. Sebastiano Camarrone a butcher survived the first volley. He was finished off by a third. Their bodies were hastily buried.
Salvatore Valenti designed the Obelisco. It was erected in 1883. Atop stands a metal star. The names of the victims are engraved at its base. Among them are Michelangelo Barone Gaetano Calandra and Giovanni Riso. Riso’s son also arrested died later from wounds and torture.
The Obelisco stands as a testament to their bravery. It is a sobering memorial. It reminds us of the cost of fighting for freedom. The park across the street holds another monument. It’s a rusting reminder of the fight against the Mafia. The Obelisco itself sadly suffers from poor conservation. Yet it remains a powerful symbol in the heart of Palermo.