A white concrete slab, measuring 1.5 meters in height, has been spreading across a hillside in the province of Trapani since 1984, covering about 85,000 square meters. This massive structure is part of a long-term project known as the Cretto di Gibellina, initiated by the Italian artist Alberto Burri. The construction began in 1984 but was halted in 1989 due to a lack of funding, and it was not completed until 2015, several years after Burri's death in 1995. Beneath the concrete, the remnants of an entire village—Gibellina—remain untouched, with its buildings, furniture, and daily objects preserved in their original positions. Gibellina, along with several neighboring villages, was destroyed in a powerful earthquake on January 15, 1968. The quake, measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale, struck the Belice Valley in southern Sicily, reducing the village to rubble within seconds and leaving thousands of people homeless. The ruins were left untouched for decades, and the town was not rebuilt in its original location. Instead, a new town called Gibellina Nuova was constructed about 20 kilometers away. This new town was designed by renowned Italian artists and architects, and today it is home to nearly 2,000 contemporary artworks scattered across its streets and squares. Burri’s Cretto di Gibellina project aimed to honor the memory of the destroyed village by covering its ruins with a single massive concrete slab. The design was unique: the cracks in the concrete replicate the layout of the original village's streets. The construction, which took 31 years to complete, faced significant challenges, including funding shortages that forced the project to pause in 1989. The work was finally completed between 2011 and 2015, with an official inauguration on October 17, 2015, marking the 100th anniversary of Burri’s birth. Today, the Cretto di Gibellina stands as a striking monument on the hillside, appearing like a massive, cracked puzzle when viewed from above. The cracks between the concrete blocks form walkable paths that follow the original streets of the village. Visitors can walk through these paths, retracing the steps of Gibellina’s former residents. Beneath the concrete, the village remains exactly as it was in 1968, with buildings, furniture, and even toys preserved in place. While Gibellina Nuova has become a modern, artistic town, the Cretto remains a subject of mixed feelings among locals. Some see it as a powerful memorial, while others feel it lacks the historical context needed to fully resonate with those who experienced the earthquake or its aftermath.