T-shirts and plastic watches

The discerning visitor to Sicily should not miss the opportunity to buy a T-shirt with authentic local colour.

On sale since early May, they retail for €32. One shopowner said that he sold about 10 a day, mainly to foreigners.

There's a lot more to choose from. T-shirts that go under the brandname Il Padrino (The Godfather) and Al Capone with the slogan "Gangster". These cost only €6. Others feature Birra Corleone or Calibro italiano or Picciotto or Baciamo le mani. There are moves, however, to have them banned.

While some may call it an admission of failure, in Naples, they've come up with a novel way to reduce the number of luxury wristwatches snatched off visitors' arms. In 3, 4 and 5-star hotels, guests will be given some sage advice, and will also be offered a plastic watch. This they should apply to their arm leaving the real thing in the hotel safe. There are six models each designed for free by noted Neapolitan artists. Let's hope their exalted genealogy does not make them valuable enough to steal.

From two articles in La Repubblica here and here.

Tagged: Italy, T-shirts, Naples, Watches"