Cretto di Burri

About

The Cretto di Burri is an expansive, concrete mural that blankets the abandoned ruins of the old town of Gibellina, an area destroyed by the 1968 Belice earthquake. Conceived and executed by renowned Italian artist Alberto Burri in 1985, the work covers several hectares of concrete that rises in irregular, terraced walls, echoing the fractures of the earth itself. The sculpture was completed in 2015 and has since become a living monument to resilience as well as a bold statement of contemporary art. Visitors can walk through the concrete “tide,” traversing the broken street layout and experiencing the scale of the artwork on foot. Alongside the Cretto, the reconstructed new city of Gibellina offers a juxtaposition of old walls and modern design, making the site a unique open‑air museum. Recognized as the Italian capital of contemporary art, the installation attracts art lovers, architecture enthusiasts, and travelers interested in the intersection of history, disaster, and creative renewal.