The Autobianchi A112 driven by Emanuela Setti Carraro on 3 September 1982 became the site of a fatal encounter in Palermo. As a volunteer nurse for the Italian Red Cross, she navigated a career in surgical pathology before her marriage to General Carlo Alberto dalla Chiesa placed her at the center of the conflict against the Sicilian Mafia.
Medical Practice and Training
Born in 1950 in Borgosesia, Emanuela Setti Carraro pursued a career in nursing through the Italian Red Cross. Her clinical experience included rotations at the Military Hospital in Milan and the operating theaters within the Institute of Surgical Pathology at the University of Milan. Her work in these environments established her professional foundation before her move to Sicily.
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On 10 July 1982, she married General Carlo Alberto dalla Chiesa, who served as the Prefect of Palermo. The wedding took place in a small private church located in Ivano-Fracena, Trentino. Despite a thirty-year age difference, the union proceeded following her persistent resolve. She remained a constant presence by the General's side throughout his tenure in Palermo.
The Via Carini Massacre
On 3 September 1982, at 9:15 pm, Setti Carraro was driving her vehicle in Palermo when she and her husband were targeted by members of the Corleonesi Mafia clan. Using an AK-47, the assailant Antonino Madonia fired from a BMW 520 driven by Calogero Ganci, killing Setti Carraro, the General, and their escorting officer, Domenico Russo. The attack marked a shift in Mafia operations, as previous customs regarding the exemption of women from targeted violence were ignored.
Posthumous Recognition
Setti Carraro received the Gold Medal of Merit from the Italian Red Cross and the Public Health Medal of Merit for her service. Following her death, she was interred in Parma alongside her husband. Her vehicle remains part of the collection at the historic museum of Voghera, and various health facilities and educational institutions across the country carry her name.
Fast facts
- Born: 1950, Borgosesia
- Died: 3 September 1982, Palermo
- Occupation: Nurse
- Spouse: Carlo Alberto dalla Chiesa
- Awards: Gold medal of Merit Croce Rossa Italiana
- Citizenship: Italy
Questions readers ask
Where did Emanuela Setti Carraro work as a nurse?
She served at the Military Hospital in Milan and in the operating rooms of the Institute of Surgical Pathology at the University of Milan.
How is the Via Carini massacre viewed in the context of Mafia history?
Her death is frequently noted for the perpetrators' departure from the traditional Mafia rule that excluded women from targeted killings.
Achievements
- Gold medal of Merit Croce Rossa Italiana
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