THE ORESTIADI OF GIBELLINA
After the earthquake that devastated Gibellina, Mayor Ludovico Corrao spearheaded a cultural project during the reconstruction, using cultural values as the foundation for rebuilding the community’s identity. In 1982, Emilio Isgrò’s “Gibella del martirio” marked the first performance of the Orestiadi, an international festival of theatre, music, and visual arts. Over the years, artists, actors, and directors from around the world have participated, creating memorable works staged at Burri’s Cretto and Baglio Di Stefano. The significant involvement of local residents and workers in creating sets and costumes, designed by renowned artists, was a hallmark of the festival. A piece of the Orestes’ Chariot, created by Arnaldo Pomodoro for the 1983 Orestiadi, became the symbol of the Orestiadi Foundation.