Siracusa, Sicily being encounter — May 19, 1960

Salvatore Cianci, described in the published catalogue as a jeweller, was driving near Siracusa with his wife on the night of May 19, 1960. Their car headlights reportedly illuminated a figure only about one metre tall. The encounter entered Jacques Vallée’s Passport to Magonia catalogue through a reference to Flying Saucer Review in 1964. The figure’s conspicuous features were its shiny covering, a helmet resembling a diver’s helmet, and two short projections described as wings. These are descriptions of its apparent equipment and silhouette, rather than a detailed account of exposed skin or facial anatomy. Cianci’s wife was said to have been considerably shocked. The brief account does not describe an exchange of words, pursuit, entry into a vehicle or a prolonged encounter. No craft was observed in the surviving summary. The Atlas classification therefore should not be read as evidence of a landing witnessed by the couple. Hatch gives approximately 10 p.m., while the Magonia-derived version places the sighting at 11 p.m.; the calendar date agrees. The available record is a short retrospective compilation, without a publicly documented medical assessment or an independent identification of the figure.