The Sicilian town named Italy’s first ‘art capital’ and a ‘modern Pompeii’

This town was lost to the dust after an earthquake, but it’s risen from the ashes (Picture: Getty Images) Italy is known for a great many things, from exceptional food to high fashion, all the way to ancient Roman ruins. But Sicily, an island that juts to the south of the boot-shaped country, is a special kind of heaven. While the likes of Palermo, Taormina, and Mount Etna have traditionally topped the bill for tourism in Sicily, one forgotten city is now stepping into the spotlight. High in the mountains of western Sicily, you’ll find Gibellina, which has been dubbed Italy’s ‘newest art capital’ and a ‘modern Pompeii’ by the cultural experts at National Geographic and CNN Travel. Tourism in Sicily is growing and fast, thanks to pop culture exposure from the likes of Dua Lipa who got married there this summer (Picture: Getty Images) It was destroyed in 1968 by a devastating earthquake that covered much of it in rubble. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. But while the old city was lost to the dust, Gibellina Nuova emerged in its place, seven miles away. These days, the old town is known as Ruderi di Gibellina, which translates to the ‘ruins’ of Gibellina, for obvious reasons. In recognition of its heritage, Italy’s national government has just designated Gibellina the country’s first Capital of Contemporary Art (Picture: Getty Images) It was abandoned until 1985, but when an artist commissioned a project to regenerate the ruins, covering it in concrete instead, it rose from the ashes. After 30 years, it was finally completed in 2015, and this year, it’s been honoured as Italy’s first Capital of Contemporary Art. Talk about a glow-up. A project to regenerate the old town got the green light in 1985 (Picture: Getty Images) Win a luxurious stay for two at London hotel The Gore Stay in an opulent hotel room in London's most cultural neighbourhood (Picture: Jack Hardy) Four-poster beds, gilded mirrors and chandeliers everywhere you look... Metro has teamed up with Starhotels Collezione to give one lucky reader (and a companion) a chance to win a luxurious two-night stay worth £900 at The Gore London, a historic boutique hotel in the cultural heart of the UK capital. For your chance to win this incredible London getaway, enter your details before midnight on Sunday, 9 August 2026. Enter now Open to UK (excluding Northern Ireland) residents aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 00:01 BST on 20/07/2026 and closes at 23:59 BST on 09/08/2026. Entrant must complete the entry form hosted on Metro. 1 prize of a two-night bed and breakfast stay in a Deluxe Room at The Gore Hotel in South Kensington, London for two (2) adults including dinner at the restaurant 190 Queen’s Gate on one night only consisting of a three course meal from the A La Carte menu with one (1) complimentary glass of wine included per person. Only one (1) entry will be accepted per person or per email address. Full T&Cs here. Things to do in Gibellina Any trip to Gibellina should start with a visit to the concrete old town, which is now a mass of winding streets designed to walk around. It’s named Cretti di Burri, and turns the landscape into a living, breathing artwork, spanning 85,000 square metres. It’s been described as a ‘concrete labyrinth’ due to its maze-like appearance. Today, Gibellina and the surrounding valley are home to over 5,000 works of art by some of Italy’s best-known contemporary artists, an extraordinary number for a tiny town of around 3,600 people. Remote and desolate, the new Gibellina is often described as an open-air museum (Picture: Universal Images Group Editorial) The crown jewel is the Stella di Acciaio (star of steel) which greets visitors upon entering. Then, there’s the Torre Civica (Civic Tower) and the Giardini Segreti (the Secret Gardens), coming together to form an open-air museum of sorts. Because this is Italy, there is, of course, a thriving culinary scene. Every region has its delicacies, and Sicily is no different. Here, you’ll find arancini (rice balls), cannoli, and cassata, a type of cake featuring ricotta cheese and fruit. Osteria Floriana specialises in seafood, as does La Massara. For pastries and traditional cakes, try Pastricceria Alba, while Food Senza Glutine Gibellina specialises in gluten-free dishes. The ‘star of steel’ greets visitors on the way in (Picture: Tim de Waele/Getty Images) How to get to Gibellina Separated from mainland Italy by the Strait of Messina, getting to Sicily requires a ferry journey or a flight to one of three airports. Recently, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni proposed a controversial plan to build a bridge between the two, which has not been welcomed by Sicilians, many of whom are staunchly protective of their physical independence. The best way to get to Gibellina from London is to take a direct flight to Trapani-Birgi Airport, a route which is served by Ryanair from Stansted. At the time of writing, return flights are available for £94, departing on September 12 and returning on September 19. Local officials hope to revitalise Sicily’s ghost towns while holding on to their remarkable history (Picture: Universal Images Group Editorial) The flight takes around 2 hours and 55 minutes, but if you’d prefer to fly from Gatwick, easyJet also runs a route to Palermo, the capital. From Trapani-Birgi Airport, the drive to Gibellina is 46 minutes, while it takes 55 minutes from Palermo. When to visit Gibellina If you’re a sunshine person, Gibellina will give you a strong dose of vitamin D all year round. Between late April and June, Sicily sees average daily temperatures ranging from 20°C up to 28°C. However, Palermo in particular, like much of Europe, is currently experiencing an unprecedented heatwave. Figures from the Met Office show that this week, temperatures are resting around the 38°C mark, with 76% humidity making it feel more like 39°C. If you prefer slightly cooler conditions, spring is also pretty idyllic, ranging between 15°C and 24°C, and 18°C and 25°C in autumn. Naturally, winter is colder, hovering between 10°C and 16°C. I’ve visited Italy 21 times, but no other city beats this little-known gem I’ve chatted to locals in Roman bars, floated on gondolas in Venice, enjoyed countless Aperitivos in Bologna, and taken in the preserved streets of Pompeii. And while I’ve loved my trips to these famous destinations, I can’t name many cities I want to come back to again and again — apart from one. Tucked away in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, the little-known (to Brits, at least) city of Cesena is often overshadowed by its neighbour, Bologna — birthplace of bolognese (only don’t call it that: it’s ragù). But, to me, Cesena is more authentic and charming than anywhere in Italy, both in the height of the summer, when temperatures can get up to the high 30s, and in the depths of winter, when it’s not uncommon to see snow. Just last year, I was lucky enough to visit not once, but twice, and I’ll be heading there in August 2026 too. If you’d like my recommendations for exploring Cesena, also known as the City of Books, then read on. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Our Top Shopping Picks Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? This brand thinks so Could your star sign improve your skincare routine? This new beauty launch thinks so Best skincare for menopausal skin? 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