In Sicily, in the Trapani area, a particular place always fascinates those who visit it: the Cretto di Burri.

It is a real concrete casting that tells the story of a city that has disappeared from the geographical maps, Gibellina Vecchia. Between 1985 and 1989, Alberto Burri created the land artwork, considered the largest in the world. Its original title was the Great Cretto.

The historic center of Gibellina Vecchia was destroyed by an earthquake in 1968, causing more than a thousand victims, many homeless people, and the destruction of six villages of the Belice valley in the Trapani area. In the following years, the city of Nuova Gibellina was rebuilt about twenty kilometers from the rubble of the old settlement. Many artists and architects contributed with enthusiasm to the reconstruction initiatives. Among these also Alberto Burri.

In 1981, Burri covered the ruins of the Sicilian town with concrete. Where once there was the rubble of the earthquake, Burri has cemented it, making the ghost town of Gibellina immortal. The works of the Cretto di Burri covered about 60 thousand square meters compared to the expected 80 thousand; in 2015, the work was completed as desired by Burri, who died in 1995.

The work appears as a series of concrete fractures on the ground from above. The white alleys, similar to deep wounds in the ground, are the same as those of the historic center of the town before the earthquake. The intent was to build a common identity, both among residents and Italians, by creating a monument of cultural and social value.

In May 2019, the Museo del Grande Cretto di Gibellina opened, a project consisting of photographs, historical documentation, models, and projections about the birth and genesis of the Grande Cretto.

Today the land artwork lends itself to artistic initiatives, fashion shows, and theatrical works. 

If you are curious and want to explore this special place, contact us at info@majolicatravel.com to include the Cretto di Burri in your tailor-made tour of Sicily. Majolica staff will be happy to help you enrich your journey with important and historical sites like this one.