Leading the growing public campaign against the onward march of Sicilian wind farms is Vittorio Sgarbi, a nationally known, loud-mouthed, publicity-seeking television personality and art critic who describes himself as a political mercenary in his latest incarnation as elected mayor of the town of Salemi.

The 56-year-old politician, who unabashedly courts controversy, is taking court action against the wind farms built near his historic hilltop fiefdom in western Sicily, some of which he alleges were built by Mafia-linked companies after corrupt deals with local politicians.