In short: The Cretto di Burri – also called the Grande Cretto or Cretto di Gibellina – is a monumental land-art work by the Italian artist Alberto Burri. It commemorates old Gibellina (Gibellina Vecchia), destroyed by the severe Belice earthquake in 1968. Burri had the footprint of the destroyed town covered in white concrete: large, human-height blocks cover the rubble of the houses, while narrow passages follow the course of the former lanes. You literally walk through the street plan of a place that no longer exists. At around 86,000 m², the work ranks among the largest land-art pieces in the world – a quiet, remote memorial site that you can practically only reach by car.
Quick Facts
- Type: walkable land-art work & memorial (Alberto Burri)
- Location: old Gibellina (Gibellina Vecchia), Province of Trapani, Belice Valley
- Size: around 86,000 m²; concrete blocks roughly human-height
- Admission: freely accessible, no ticket (check before your visit)
- Duration: approx. 1 hour for the walk-through
- Without a car: barely possible – remote, no meaningful public transport
- Important: no shade, no water, sturdy shoes
History: the 1968 Earthquake & Burri’s Work
On the night of 15 January 1968, a severe earthquake struck the Belice Valley in western Sicily. Several towns were destroyed, hundreds of people died, and tens of thousands lost their homes. Gibellina too was almost entirely levelled. Rather than rebuilding on the same site, a new town, Gibellina Nuova, was founded a few kilometres away – old Gibellina remained behind as a field of rubble.
In the 1980s, the new town was deliberately furnished with works by contemporary artists. Alberto Burri, one of the most important Italian post-war artists, chose a different path: rather than create a sculpture for the new town, he wanted to turn the site of the disaster itself into a memorial. He had the rubble of the destroyed houses compacted and covered in white concrete, so that the old town plan was preserved. Work began in the mid-1980s (around 1984/1985), was interrupted in 1989, and was only completed in 2015 – on the centenary of Burri’s birth. The result is one of the largest land-art works in the world, at once an artwork and a memorial to an erased town.
What You’ll See
- A white concrete labyrinth – the blocks are roughly human-height, so you walk between them as you once would have walked through the village’s lanes. The passages follow the actual course of the old streets.
- The sheer scale – the work covers around 86,000 m² on the hillside. From raised points at the edge, the complete footprint of the destroyed town opens up, its blocks looking like petrified rows of houses.
- Walking it as an experience – you can walk through the lanes and feel the silence and openness of the Belice Valley. The glaring white of the concrete, the emptiness, and the remoteness make the visit a haunting, almost meditative experience.
The Cretto is deliberately not a classic sightseeing destination: there’s no exhibition, no information panels in the conventional sense, and no souvenir stands – only the work, the landscape, and the knowledge of what happened here.
Planning Your Visit
The Cretto is freely accessible; you pay no admission and need no ticket. Whether the site is temporarily closed for maintenance or events is best checked in advance. There’s no infrastructure on site: no café, no kiosk, no restrooms, and – crucially – no shade. Bring plenty of water, sun protection, and a hat.
Wear sturdy shoes: the concrete surfaces are uneven in places, and the passages run gently uphill and downhill. Plan around an hour for the walk-through – longer if you want to photograph or simply linger. The work is most striking in the early morning or late afternoon, when the sun sits lower, the heat eases, and the light gives the white blocks depth. As this is a memorial site, considerate, quiet conduct goes without saying.
Getting There
A car is practically essential – the Cretto lies remotely on the hillside of old Gibellina, and there is barely any public transport. From Palermo you’ll reach the work in a good hour via the A29 (towards Mazara del Vallo), and from Trapani likewise in about an hour. There’s a free car park at the foot of the work.
Don’t confuse the Cretto with Gibellina Nuova, the modern, newly built town with its own artworks – it lies about 18–20 km away. The Cretto stands on the site of the old, destroyed town. The visit combines well with Segesta and a tour through western Sicily.
Best Time to Visit
Because the Cretto lies completely unshaded in the sun, spring (April to June) and autumn (September, October) are most pleasant: mild temperatures and clear light. In high summer the white concrete surfaces get very hot – then the visit is only worthwhile in the early morning or late evening hours. Since you’ll be arriving by car anyway, the Cretto fits well into a larger tour. For more on the region, see Province of Trapani, practical tips at Sicily by Rental Car, and a general overview at Best Time to Visit Sicily.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cretto di Burri?
A monumental land-art work by Alberto Burri that covers the ruins of old Gibellina, destroyed by the earthquake of 1968, in white concrete. The passages between the blocks follow the old street plan and can be walked.
What does the work commemorate?
Old Gibellina (Gibellina Vecchia), almost entirely destroyed by the Belice earthquake in January 1968. Burri turned the site of the disaster itself into a memorial by preserving the town plan in concrete.
Does the visit cost admission?
According to tourist sources, the Cretto is freely accessible and can be entered without a ticket. Before your visit, check whether the site is closed for maintenance or events.
How do you get to the Cretto di Burri?
Best by car: around an hour from Palermo or Trapani via the A29. Public transport is barely available. There’s a free car park at the foot of the work.
How much time should you plan and when should you go?
About an hour for the walk-through. Early morning or late afternoon are most pleasant, since there’s no shade – spring and autumn are the most bearable seasons.
Is the Cretto the same as Gibellina Nuova?
No. The Cretto stands on the site of the destroyed old Gibellina. Gibellina Nuova is the newly built town about 18–20 km away, with its own artworks.
Western Sicily & Modern Art
We combine the Cretto di Burri with Segesta, Trapani, and the west coast into a coherent route and book your accommodation. Just send us a no-obligation travel request.
Sources & Updates
Basis: editorial local knowledge and generally available information on Alberto Burri’s Grande Cretto and the 1968 Belice earthquake. Free access, closures, and travel details vary by season and should be checked before your visit; there’s no infrastructure on site (bring water and sun protection). As of: 13 July 2026.
