One of the most important works of Italian land art created by Alberto Burri is located where the old city of Gibellina in Sicily once stood, between 1984 and 1989 the Cretto di Gibellina. An expanse of 80 thousand square meters of white concrete and debris that tells the story of a city that disappeared from geographical maps. The historic center of old Gibellina was destroyed by an earthquake on 15 January 1968, causing 1150 victims, 98,000 homeless people and six villages destroyed in the Belice valley, in the province of Trapani.
In the following years the city of Nuova Gibellina was rebuilt 20 km from the rubble of the old settlement. Heeding the call of the then mayor Ludovico Corrao, many artists and architects contributed enthusiastically to the reconstruction initiatives. Among these also Alberto Burri. The work on the Cretto di Burri, started in 1985 and interrupted in 1989, covered approximately 60 thousand square meters compared to the 80 thousand expected; thirty years after the start of its construction, in May 2015, the work was completed as desired by Burri, who passed away in February ’95. Not far from the cretto is the headquarters of the Orestiadi Institute of High Culture Foundation and the Museum of Mediterranean Weaves.
A symbolic work of Belice also for the times of its construction: begun in 1984, it was inaugurated in 2015. Visiting the Cretto is a unique emotion, especially if the experience is accompanied by the possibility of tasting local wines
Program :
- Departure from Palermo at 8.00 am by minivan
- Arrival in Gibbelina
- Visit to the cellar and wine tasting
- Free time to visit the Burri crack
The tour is private if carried out with a minimum of 2 pax and a maximum of 8 pax.
