The ghost village of Vizzini: the Cunziria

Vizzini is a Sicilian town famous because it was the birthplace of the well-known writer Giovanni Verga. But there is also another reason why it is known: one of its neighborhoods is now totally abandoned but offers extremely suggestive views. It is no coincidence that it was used as the setting for a film inspired by the Cavalleria Rusticana, and Verga himself mentioned it in some of his writings. This district was built in the eighteenth century and is called the Cunziria. The term in Sicilian indicates the tannery, which is the place where the leather was processed. About 40 families lived here, in houses that were at the same time workshops and shops. The tanning process of the hides was long and laborious, and the place was chosen for the presence of the Masera stream, since the use of water was essential. Over time the neighborhood became depopulated, as the leather processing process was mechanized. Today it is mainly invaded by vegetation and prickly pears, but offers an exceptional view of the center of Vizzini.