During my recent trip to Sicily, I had the opportunity to witness the awe-inspiring Cretto di Burri, a magnificent land art project that I first learned about eight years ago. It is disheartening to know that the talented artist, Alberto Burri, never had the chance to witness the completion of this masterpiece, which took over 30 years to finish.

As I arrived in the mountainous region of the Sicilian hinterland, I was taken aback by the sheer beauty and serenity of the monument. It seemed to sprawl across the mountains like a living entity, capturing my attention in a profound way.

The purpose of this remarkable artwork is to commemorate the devastating Belice earthquake of 1968, which resulted in the loss of over 400 lives and left more than 100,000 people homeless. In the aftermath of this tragic event, survivors were compelled to construct new towns, leaving the remnants of the past behind.

Cretto di Burri stands on the very site of the abandoned old Gibellina, its white concrete structure covering the fragments of the shattered buildings. Within the fabrics, poignant remnants such as old furniture, family photographs, and diaries rest silently, frozen in time. The meticulously recreated streets and alleyways faithfully echo the original layout of the town, inviting visitors to tread upon the paths once walked by generations before us. However, a sense of stillness pervades the atmosphere, as if the whispers of the wind are the only remnants of the past.