The Florio family is one of the most important entrepreneurial families in Italian history.
Their story is a story of success, passion and decline, which is intertwined with the history of Sicily and Italy.
The Florios dominated the Sicilian economy and society, becoming one of the richest families in Europe.
- The origins
The Florio family has Calabrian origins. Paolo Florio, the founder, was born in Bagnara Calabra in 1772.
In 1799, after the earthquake that hit Calabria, Paolo Florio moved to Palermo, where he began working as a grocer.
Success Paolo Florio was a man of great talent and ambition.
Thanks to his work and his intelligence, he managed to build a commercial empire that stretched from Palermo to Marsala.
The Florios were active in various sectors, including shipping, wine production, tuna fishing and tobacco processing.
Their company was one of the most important in Southern Italy, and contributed to the prosperity of Sicily's economy.
The Florios were also a very rich and influential family. They were friends of the powerful, and frequented the salons of the aristocracy.
- The decline
The success of the Florios began to decline at the end of the 19th century.
The family was hit by a series of negative events, including the death of Paolo Florio, the economic crisis of 1893 and the First World War.
The Florios were unable to overcome these events, and their company began to lose ground. Ultimately, the Florio family lost all of their assets, and were forced to sell their properties.
- The new Disney series
The new Disney series "The Lions of Sicily" tells the story of the Florio family.
The series, which was produced by Leone Film, is set at the end of the 19th century and tells the story of Ignazio Florio, the son of Paolo Florio.
In addition to the history of the Florio family, the Disney series "The Lions of Sicily" also offers numerous interesting ideas to learn more about Sicily and its history.
Among the most interesting gems, we can mention:
- The history of the Favignana tuna fishery, one of the most important traps in the world. The series shows the life of tuna fishermen and the hard work that went into tuna fishing.
- The history of the Italian Risorgimento. The series shows the influence of the Florio family on the Italian Risorgimento. The Florios were supporters of the unification of Italy, and contributed to financing the Risorgimento cause.
- The history of 19th century Palermo. The series offers a portrait of 19th century Palermo, a rich and multicultural city, showing the life of the aristocracy, the people and the bourgeoisie of Palermo.
The Disney series "The Lions of Sicily" is an opportunity to learn more about one of the most important families in Italian history, and to discover a Sicily rich in history and culture.