Tour Details
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
-
- Chiesa Madre
- Porta del Belice
- Gibellina’s Contemporary Art Civic Museum
- Alberto Burri’s Cretto
Photos & Highlights
- Explore a unique open-air contemporary art and architecture exhibition
- Led by a local architect or expert historian
Select a date
Tour Description
In Sicily’s sunny Belice Valley, lies a little village with an incredible history. In January 1968 a devastating earthquake destroyed the towns of Gibellina and Poggioreale. After the earthquake, the town of Nuova (New) Gibellina rose from the devastation becoming an inspiration for contemporary art and architecture.
You will begin your journey in New Gibellina, visiting the incredible spheric church of Chiesa Madre, designed by the Italian architect Ludovico Quaroni. This bold and unconventional architectural masterpiece embodies the town’s determination to rise from the ruins.
From there, your guide will accompany you to Porta del Belice, symbol of the renaissance of Gibellina, and through the town’s art-filled streets, showing you how modern architecture and monumental sculptures can help redefine the urban landscape.
Next, you will visit Gibellina’s Contemporary Art Civic Museum, home to a remarkable collection of contemporary art, including a vivid series of paintings by Mario Schifano. You will conclude the tour at the iconic Cretto di Burri, a haunting yet breathtaking land art memorial that overlays the ruins of Old Gibellina. This colossal artwork, designed by Alberto Burri, retraces the streets of the lost town, inviting visitors to reflect on the profound interplay between destruction and creativity.
This tour offers a deeply moving and enlightening exploration of Gibellina’s transformation, and an unforgettable exploration of art’s power to heal, transform, and inspire.
- You’re fascinated by contemporary art and modern designs.
- You want to learn from the voice of a local expert the history of this community’s inspiring resilience and creativity.
- You’d like to walk through a town transformed into an open-air museum.
- Chiesa Madre by Ludovico Quaroni
- Porta del Belice by Pietro Consagra
- Gibellina’s Contemporary Art Civic Museum
- Alberto Burri’s Cretto
Tickets
You are pre-paid for the tour and the admission to the Contemporary Art Civic Museum. Note there may be nominal site entrance costs or other fees that are not included in the price of the tour. It is a good idea to have some local currency on hand for these.
Transportation
We are staying in Gibellina. Can the guide meet us at our hotel? No, it would be easier if guests meet the guide at the designated starting point, as hotel locations in Gibellina vary, and walking from your hotel could take significant time. This ensures we can make the most of the short tour and cover all the highlights.
We are staying in Palermo. Can we add a car service from and to Gibellina? Yes, we can arrange a car service from your hotel in Palermo to the meeting point in Gibellina and back for an additional price. Simply leave a note in the note section at checkout to let us know.
Additional Trip-Planning Resources
Few things that pair well with this tour:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunscreen and a hat for outdoor exploration
For more information on planning your travels to Sicily, take a read through our Context Stories.
If you are looking to learn more about Sicily prior to a visit, check out our online lectures.
Is this tour suitable for families with children? Yes, while this tour is not specifically designed for kids, it is suitable for families with children. Just keep in mind that it can get quite hot in Sicily in the summer, so we recommend coming prepared for the weather.
Can we take this tour in the afternoon? We normally recommend this tour only in the morning because of the heat, particularly in the summer months, and because of the distance from Palermo. Please let us know in the note section at checkout if you would like to request a different time.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Is this tour wheelchair-friendly?
While Gibellina itself is quite flat, making the urban sculptures easily accessible, the Cretto di Burri presents some challenges. Entering the Cretto is not recommended for wheelchairs unless it’s an electric model with strong brakes, as the terrain can be uneven and difficult to navigate. However, visitors with mobility issues can still enjoy excellent views of the Cretto from both the top and the bottom, as well as from the nearby road, offering a meaningful perspective on this remarkable site.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
