Cretto di Burri

On the night of 15th January 1968, a terrible earthquake raked through the Valle del Belice in southwest Sicily. Around 900 people died and ten towns and villages were significantly damaged. Two, Gibellina and Poggioreale, were left in ruins.

The story of how Gibellina and Poggioreale overcame this cataclysmic event and how they dealt with the bleak task of rebuilding and relocating is one of the most fascinating chapters of 20th century Sicilian history.

In 1983, Corrao, who had dedicated the rest of his life to Gibellina and its inhabitants, invited the internationally renowned artist Alberto Burri to visit new Gibellina. During his stay, Burri asked to see the ruins of the old town and it was during his visit there that a new idea took form: to transform the rubble and destitution of old Gibellina into a work of art that would both provide a fitting memorial to those who had died and create an artistic link between the old and new towns.

And so began work on one of the largest opere d'arte ever created. With the exception of the streets, which were left open for visitors to wander through, the whole area of the old town (120,000 square metres) was covered with a five-foot strata of white concrete, as if a shroud had been laid over the ruins. Looking from above, one has the impression of seeing an enormous grey-white tortoise shell moulded over the side of the hill. Immersed in glorious countryside and offering stunning views of the idyllic Valle del Belice, the Cretto di Burri is an awe-inspiring work that is at once uplifting and solemn, a testimony to man's durability and creativity in the face of adversity.