Nods on Custonaci
Custonaci is an Italian municipality of over 5500 inhabitants of the free municipal consortium of Trapani in Sicily.
Since 26 August 2009, following an Episcopal Bull, Custonaci has acquired the title of «Civitas Mariae» due to the intense Marian devotion expressed over time.
It is also called the "International City of Marble" due to the presence in its territory of the second largest marble basin in Europe with around 100 active quarries and around fifty industrial factories. Custonaci has been the international city of marble for years and presents itself as the first marble of Sicily, the second in Italy and Europe.
Custonaci is close to an area of great naturalistic interest, the Monte Cofano Oriented Nature Reserve which can be explored along paths that offer panoramas of incomparable beauty.
A wonderful sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS di Custonaci, of sixteenth-century origins, is the most representative monument of the city of Custonaci, a place of ancient worship and destination of many pilgrimages for over 500 years. The facade of the sanctuary with portal with pointed arches and rose window and l The neo-Gothic interior is the expression of the latest renovations that took place at the beginning of the 20th century.
The monumental staircase and the paved churchyard floor with characteristic stone pebbles that extend for several hundred square meters are of great decorative effect.
A graceful Madonna enthroned with the Child Jesus, crowned by Angels, is the first image on which the cult of the Madonna of Custonaci was centered. Painted on a wooden panel around 1460, its mantle is decorated with podded vases full of ears of corn.
The apse of the sanctuary of Custonaci houses the painting and the most sumptuous Baroque plastic-architectural furnishings in the Trapani area: a large marble tribune adorned with a 17th century marble Immaculate Conception and four wooden statues (c.1750) by Pietro Cannamela from Trapani . Also noteworthy in the sanctuary are the frescoes by Domenico La Bruna, the paintings by Giuseppe Felici (first half of the 18th century) and the pictorial decoration by Carlo Righetto (1900). The carved and painted wooden choir (18th century) is very impressive.
Also interesting are a panel attributed to the workshop of Antonello Crescenzio (first half of the 16th century) and a wooden altar (15th-16th century).
From Custonaci by car
Custonaci is located on the north coast of the province of Trapani, halfway between Trapani and San Vito Lo Capo. If you want to explore the natural and architectural beauty of this corner of Sicily, it is the perfect place to stay and rent a car.
From here you can head towards San Vito Lo Capo and Castellammare del Golfo eastwards, until you reach Palermo. Or you can head west to Erice, Trapani, the Egadi islands and Marsala.
CUSTONACI a village treasure
Custonaci... Welcome to a unique journey through nature, art, history, devotion and gastronomy.
Explore the village of Custonaci and experience its wonder and its Cornino the marine paradise of Custonaci
Cornino, the enchanting seaside village of Custonaci, boasts a bay with golden sand, a summer destination for many swimmers.
This marine paradise offers opportunities for water sports, boat excursions and fishing in its rich seabed.
Cornino comes alive in the summer with sporting events, sports tournaments and excursions.
Discover Custonaci: eternal elegance, Custonaci, in Sicily, welcomes you with timeless views: the mighty Monte Erice to the south and the suggestive Monte Cofano to the north, dominate the bay of Cornino.
Our sanctuary and marble quarries stand majestically.
The sunset gives magical colors to the landscape, with rocks, vegetation, olive trees and vines that blend into an unforgettable picture.
History, nature, and archeology are intertwined - Experience the essence of Custonaci
Between Elymian roots, Phoenician influences and an Arabic touch, the city tells its story.
Nature offers paintings with the Monte Cofano Nature Reserve and Monte Sparagio, offering spectacular landscapes.
The Monte Cofano Reserve is an authentic treasure chest, one of the most fascinating natural attractions in the area. Surrounded by silence and embraced by lush flora, it stands out for the presence of enormous rocks that extend to the sea.
In the countryside there are the "bagli", ancient rural structures, fortified and with an internal courtyard.
Custonaci boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage, from prehistoric caves to steles with anthropomorphic figures.
The numerous prehistoric caves reveal thousand-year-old secrets.
Among these, the most famous is the Grotta Mangiapane which once welcomed a family who, in the early nineteenth century, transformed this space into a small village which today becomes the stage for handed down traditions, hosting the Museum and the Living Nativity Scene .
In Custonaci, archaeological mysteries emerge, to admire the oldest Islamic granary, an archaeological site of great value.
And again two imposing monoliths that mark the flow of time in harmony with the solar alignment: the Gate of the Sun and the Horse of the Sun.
Custonaci is a sort of Sicilian Stonehenge still to be exploited
Art and monuments
Custonaci, a land
Mariana
In the heart of the village, art comes to life through the Madonna of Custonaci, a delicate image
on a panel from 1521.
Framed by angels and pod vases full of ears of corn, the Madonna enthroned with Child is the fulcrum of the cult.
The apse of the Sanctuary of Custonaci is impressive, with a baroque marble tribune adorned with a marble Immaculate Conception from the Gaginesque school and four wooden statues by the sculptor Pietro Cannamela.
Frescoes by Domenico La Bruna, canvases by Giuseppe Felici and the pictorial decoration by Carlo Righetto enrich the sanctuary.
In the Cerriolo Park, a unique experience of faith is revealed through a Via Crucis with marble stations.
The Marian Sanctuary of Custonaci, dating back to the mid-sixteenth century, a symbol of ancient worship and a place of pilgrimage, has a façade with pointed arches.
The “Art and Faith” Museum houses a precious 15th century wooden aedicule with the Madonna of Custonaci, processional banners, sculptures, paintings and more.
The wooden chest, used in the famous "transports" of the Painting of the Madonna of Custonaci towards Erice, is a distinctive element of this tradition.
The eternal bond between Custonaci and the Madonna is celebrated every year with the evocative "Landing".
Tradition has it that the Madonna arrived from the sea on a Venetian or French ship, saving herself from a shipwreck, landing in Cala Bukutu.
During the August celebrations, a sailing ship arrives in the bay illuminated by fireworks, disembarking a copy of the Painting, faithful with torches accompany the image in procession to the Sanctuary, recalling with devotion this ancient event.
The presence of the Madonna of Custonaci permeates the territory, from the "Regina Pacis" statue in the Cerriolo Park, to the "Stella Maris" positioned 13 meters deep in the waters in front of the Monte Cofano Nature Reserve.
Custonaci is a Civitas Mariae, a place steeped in centuries-old Marian devotion.
Tradition and flavours, taste the authenticity of Custonaci
In the local cuisine, couscous stands out, the kingdom of sea bass, sea bream and tuna, red prawns served in roasts
succulent, delicious preparations and perfect frying.
Among the delicacies, the "pane cunzato" and the meats of many fine and local types are real gastronomic stars that tell the story of the passion of this wonderful land.
The peasant cuisine can be admired with ricotta cassatelle in broth, roasted goat and lamb with aromas of bay leaves and rosemary.
Desserts, such as "spince", ricotta cassatelle and pignolata, delight the palate.
A culinary experience between sea and countryside, accompanied by good oil and excellent local wine.
Economy and typical productions - Custonaci and its economic heart
The precious marbles of Custonaci are of significant importance from a geological and economic point of view.
Used for centuries to adorn monumental works such as the Royal Palace of Caserta and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, they have become famous worldwide.
The “Marble and Cave Museum” collects photographs and work equipment used in the marble quarries of Custonaci in the 1950s.
Agriculture and animal husbandry together with the tourism sector with hotels, B&Bs and hospitality facilities and tourist services, give strength and vitality to the economy of Custonaci.