Custonaci

custonaci@castellammaredelgolfo.com

Custonaci

Custonaci is an agricultural center where the extraction and processing marble, especially the pearl of Sicily, is now the main economic activity, so that the country is the first center marble island.

In its territory, which also includes the highest peak of Mount Sparagio, several caves are scattered, interesting from the geological and paleontological; these include the Cave Mangiapane, training is karst and marine, with enormous caverns that extend tapering towards the inside and having an opening very wide, high 80 m deep and 70.

The design of the urban settlement dating back to the eighteenth century, when the country was built around the existing sanctuary dedicated to the Our Lady of Custonaci, destination for pilgrims even in the fourteenth century; The church was built over several periods, which explains the coexistence of different architectural styles. The Madonna is depicted in a nice table sixteenth attributed to Fra’ Ludwig Zichichi.

Very striking too many beams, aggregates for housing to accommodate workers of farms and characterized by a square-shaped courtyard; the beam Bonnet and that of Mangiapane Cave represent a variant, as characterized by courtyards communicating with each other and bounded by low dry stone walls.

Living Nativity

A few kilometers from Custonaci is Scurati, small village of scattered houses like inside a crib, in a landscape of natural caves that open on tall cliffs.

The largest of these is the Grotta Mangiapane, within which over time were built small houses, stables and a bread oven, while in the vicinity of the cave rose other rural buildings. In this context,, in 1983 began the adventure of the Nativity, conceived as an evolution from the mystery plays were held so far in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Custonaci.

At the same religious initiative have gradually materialized and rural experiences and craftsmanship that have created a “staging” lively and fascinating: peasantry, Pastors, women, children, sellers and animals move in a scenario sacralized by gestures, items, sounds and smells old.

On the essential dimension of a shop or a room so every object tells the cultural universe of agricultural life – pastoral care and craftsmanship in the countryside at the end of Erice 1800.

Living Museum

In the same cave a Living Museum