The Salt Cathedral of Realmonte is an underground Catholic church built within the tunnels of a salt mine underground in a halite mountain near the town of Scavuzzo, Agrigento, in Sicily.
Salt deposits in Realmonte have formed 6 million years ago.
The Cathedral was entirely built by local miners and has 100m in length, 20m in width, and 8m in height.
Statues, bas-reliefs, altars are carved in the halite.
The 4th of December is Saint Barbara day, patron saint of armorers, artillerymen, military engineers, miners, and others who work with explosives because of her old legend’s association with lightning, and also of mathematicians.
On that day the miners celebrate a religious function honoring Saint Barbara. The church can host 800 people.
Images of the Salt Cathedral of Realmonte
Source: Wikipedia
Photos: Italkali.com
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