ASSOCIAZIONE ARTE DEL FAR RIDERE - Franca Viola

The day after Christmas, thirteen people came to take her away. They took her along with her younger brother. The brother was released two days later, but Franca remained in the hands of Filippo Melodia for another six days.



He was the son of a local mobster, the mastermind of the “plan.” As if Franca were an object, a rare diamond he desired but could not afford to buy, he decided to kidnap her. After abducting her, he kept her locked in his house, subjecting her to terror and violence.



He was convinced that this would allow him to bend her and her parents to his will: he intended to marry her. For that man, marriage was a contract that determined who owned that precious jewel – forever. At that time, divorce did not exist in Italy.