Things to see in Gibellina

Gibellina is a small city—and a living arts experiment—in Trapani province, western Sicily. Rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in January 1968, Gibellina Nuova was masterplanned by avant-garde architects, sculptors, and artists who transformed its streets, plazas, and structures into vibrant expressions of modern art and architecture.

Named Capital of Contemporary Art 2026, Gibellina stands out as one of Italy’s most distinctive cultural destinations.

Gibellina is often described as an open-air museum of contemporary art, where public spaces were designed as canvases for architectural and sculptural experimentation. Much of the town's post-1968 reconstruction involved leading artists and architects, whose works now shape its streets, piazzas, and skyline. From monumental land art to abstract installations and modernist churches, most sights are outdoors and within walking distance—though some lie further afield, such as Burri’s Grande Cretto.

Landmarks: Gibellina Town Hall (Municipio di Gibellina). Modern civic building (1972–84) by architects Giuseppe Samonà, Vittorio Gregotti, Gianni Pirrone and Alberto Samonà. It anchors the east–west axis of the “sistema delle piazze” and houses a gallery corridor featuring works by Gino Severini, Carla Accardi and Arnaldo Pomodoro. Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Ludovico Corrao). The museum, also known as MAC, houses one of Southern Italy’s largest collections of contemporary art (≈2,000 works by artists such as Schifano, Guttuso, and Paladino). Named after former mayor Ludovico Corrao, who spearheaded its creation to rebuild Gibellina through culture.