Gibellina Vecchia was an ancient town located in the Belice Valley in Sicily that was completely destroyed by an earthquake on 14 January 1968, along with other communities in the area. A new town of Gibellina was built about 20 km from the valley, thanks to the vision of Mayor Lidevigo Corraro, who called in artists from all over the world to embellish the new town with their works.
Gibellina today features many modern works of art and innovative architecture, and has become an open-air museum. Among the most famous works are Mimmo Paladino’s Montagna di Sale (Salt Mountain), Pietro Consagra’s 26-metre-high Stella (Star), and Alberto Burri’s Cretto, created in memory of the old, destroyed town. In addition, the town boasts a number of other works of art by artists such as Mario Schifano, Andrea Casella, Leonardo Sciascia, Franco Angeli, Ludovico Quaroni, Francesco Venezia, Carla Accardi, Mimmo Rotella and Alessandro Mendini.
It is advisable to visit Gibellina with a professional guide, as the town is very large and there are many works of art to discover. In addition, the town is extensive, so a guide can help choose the most important works of art and provide detailed information on each of them.
In summary, Gibellina is a unique city that has been able to transform destruction into beauty, thanks to the vision of its mayor and the commitment of the artists involved in the reconstruction project. Today, the city is a popular tourist destination for those who love contemporary art and innovative architecture.