Italian authorities have opened a murder investigation following the discovery of the naked body of a 35-year-old British man near a remote off-grid community in Sicily.
The man was found deceased on Saturday night in the rural area between the municipalities of Noto and Canicattini Bagni, in the province of Syracuse.
Local reports, including from the newspaper La Sicilia, have raised concerns that the death may be linked to 'esoteric rites'. This speculation follows the discovery of a tent, a farmhouse containing a rope, psychotropic drugs, and a goat's head near the man's body.
Authorities confirmed that the man had been staying in the isolated region for several days and had reportedly interacted with a community that lives off-grid in abandoned farmhouses and campsites. The investigation is ongoing, and a post-mortem examination has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death, with preliminary observations noting signs of violence on the man's neck.
The off-grid community is known to local residents, who describe its members as 'hippies' or 'flower children'. The mayor of Canicattini Bagni, Paolo Amenta, told local news outlet MeridioNews that the community has historically maintained peaceful relations and has had some contact with the wider local population. "They have never caused any problems with public order or otherwise," Amenta stated.
Mayor Amenta further explained that many members of the group are nomadic and stay in the area for periods ranging from ten days to a month, though some have established longer-term residences. Some individuals occupy empty farmhouses or camp on open land, while others have inherited or purchased property. The community also hosts visiting friends who share their lifestyle, including young graduates from foreign countries seeking a different way of life.
The autopsy is expected to take place in the coming days. The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.