Custonaci

Custonaci is a small town in the province of Trapani, which has at least three most popular places there: the Cornino and the Cala Buguta resorts, the Manjapane grotto and marble, which is also called the Pearl of Sicily (Perlato di Sicilia).

Custonaci was founded at the beginning of the 18th century that is not long ago according to the Sicilian measures. Nowadays it is a cosy Sicilian resort with lots of tropical plants, the beautiful mountain, called Monte Sparagio, the Jacalamaro forest and lots of caves in its vicinity.

The historical centre of the town is situated near the Temple of Custonaci Madonna, which has been known since the 15th century as the place of pilgrimage.

The Manjapane grotto is the most interesting place there. At the beginning of the 19th century it was filled up with landslide. Later it was dug out and now it serves as a natural scene. Nowadays on Christmas Eve and at the beginning of January each year the unique performance called “Christ’s Trough” is staged there during which the actors and actresses recreate a legendary biblical event. The Manjapane grotto is opened as a museum from July till September.

Custonaci is famous for its marble not only in Sicily but far away from it. Its mining and manufacturing are highly developed there. Such kinds of marble as Perlato di Sicilia and Fiorito Custonaci are actively exported. So the most popular souvenirs in Custonaci are ash-trays, candle-sticks and vases made of marble.

The holiday season starts in May. Most of the tourists come there in July. Tourists prefer staying not only in Custonaci but in two small villages nearby: Cornino and Cala Buguto. Both these villages are famous for their ideal beaches and pure water of the sea. You can feel the atmosphere of the 15th -16th centuries in those villages, when only Sicilian fisher-men lived there. There are some small workshops in Cornino where you can order some souvenirs including fishing-tackles. There is one of the best beaches of the Western Sicily. There called Scivolo. The traditional variants of dwelling in both Cornino and Cala Buguto are hotels and B&B Villas.