@viggy40 25 November 2021

Realmonte Salt Mine

On the southern coast of Sicily is the town of Realmonte, and 100 meters below it stretches a 25 km long labyrinth of tunnels - Realmonte salt mine. The walls of the mine are decorated with various belts of dark and light colors, arranged in concentric circles and stripes.

In addition to its unusual natural beauty, the Realmonte salt mine also features a church located deep in the mine, along with an altar, stairs, and frescoes. The church can accommodate up to 800 people, and every year at the beginning of December, rituals take place in it, celebrating Santa Barbara, the patron saint of miners. Realmonte is still an active mine from which about 500 thousand tons of salt are extracted every year.