Custonaci unveils three unseen sites for "A Treasure of the Village"

When: 15–17 May 2026. Admission: free.

For three days the village of Custonaci (TP) offers a spread-out festival highlighting local assets: guided tours of newly opened sites, folk music, educational workshops for children and cultural events showcasing the area's history, archeoastronomy and natural heritage.

What to see

• World War II bunker: a cave-built military structure clad in stone, opening to the public for the first time with a small display of period objects and original wall inscriptions.
• Porta del Sole: an archeoastronomical monument — a stone calendar linked to solar cults; visits are accompanied by students from the local Scuola Dinamica who maintain the site.
• Cerriolo Suburban Park: a compact territorial microcosm with green trails, an abandoned marble quarry, a prehistoric cave reaching toward the sea and religious sculptural works.

Key program highlights

• Friday 15 May: festival opens with the educational workshop "Active Citizenship" at Cerriolo Suburban Park, aimed at children.
• Saturday 16 May, 4:00 PM: institutional ceremony at the Stalla della Madonna with the awarding of the title City of Folklore and the unveiling of a marble monument at the Villa Comunale.
• Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May: guided tours of the three sites, street performances of traditional music and dance; evening folk concerts in the main square featuring local groups.
• Sunday 17 May, 9:00 PM: "Natural Cello" recital at the Sanctuary of Maria SS. di Custonaci with works by Bach, Sollima and original compositions.

Additional stops and side activities

The program also features the recently opened MAC – Contemporary Art Museum of Cornino, guided explorations of Grotta della Clava with local speleologists, the Marble and Caves Museum, and the walk to Vurga di Purgatorio organized by community associations.

Practical information

• Dates: 15–17 May 2026.
• Admission: most events are free; check for required reservations on special guided visits.
• Organizers: Municipality of Custonaci together with the local Pro Loco and a network of associations, supported by the regional Department of Cultural Heritage.

The initiative is designed to promote the village's identity through experiential routes that combine nature, history and popular tradition — a chance to discover normally inaccessible places and to engage with local culture through music and community knowledge.