Scala dei Turchi may be auctioned after owner's failed donation attempts

The Scala dei Turchi, a white marl cliff in Realmonte, Sicily, may be put up for auction by its private owner, retired Sicilian Ferdinando Sciabarrà. The natural attraction, previously affected by landslides and vandalism, is not owned by the municipality or region. Sciabarrà, a former Agrigento Chamber of Commerce official, told Corriere della Sera he wanted to donate it to the public administration but was ignored, and was prevented from entrusting it to an environmental association. He insists on safety measures and controlled access. After a legal case confirmed his ownership of the upper part, the region failed to follow through on management promises, and the municipality reopened a civil suit for adverse possession, later dismissed. Facing another tourist season without safety guarantees, Sciabarrà decided to auction the site, appealing to Elon Musk. Conditions: safety measures, no construction, and free public access.