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“Nicola Santoro” Holiday Homes:
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Situated in the eastern tip of the Gulf of Bonagia, Custonaci stands on a hill at about 200 meters above sea level, just behind the Bay of Cornino. It borders with the famous municipalities of Valderice, San Vito Lo Capo and Castellammare del Golfo.
Custonaci is an integral part of the area called “Agro-Ericino (countryside around Erice)” and it has developed its full potential on marble quarrying, especially the "Perlato di Sicilia" (a light ivory-coloured marble), so that today Custonaci is the second most important marble quarrying area in Italy. There are many quarries currently in operation, which contribute to make the surrounding landscape really suggestive.
The “Caves of Scurati” are located in its territory; within them some archaeological finds have been discovered, thus confirming that the area has been inhabited since the Upper Paleolithic. For some years, in the Christmas period, the "Living Crib of Custonaci” has been taking place, which attracts many tourists and believers.
A place of historical and artistic interest is the shrine of “Maria Santissima (Most Holy Mary) of Custonaci”, where an oil painting dating back to the 15th century is kept. It depicts the Virgin breast-feeding the Child and attributable to the school of Antonello da Messina,. The painting is object of great devotion for the inhabitants of Custonaci and the surrounding municipalities.
The last week of August the feast in Her honour is held: a procession by sea makes it really evocative and unique. A multitude of boats (some boatmen allow visitors to assist the procession by their boats, so that they can live it closely) accompany the painting until the landing, in the beautiful setting of the Bay of Cornino. The Holy Image is placed on a wagon and carried on the shoulders of faithfuls up to the Shrine, accompanied by the local band and fireworks. The entrance in the shrine is the most evocative moment, among prayers and applauses.
Stella Maris (Our Lady, Star of the Sea) is a tribute to Our Lady, in memory of all the vic-tims who lost their lives at sea in search of freedom.
In 2009 Custonaci, which has been devoted to the Virgin Mary for hundreds of years, was recognised as “Civitas Mariae” (the only city in Sicily to receive this prestigious recogni-tion, and one of the five cities in Italy). In the same year a group of devotees and sea en-thusiasts, with the aim of strengthening the cult of the Virgin Mary coming from the sea in order to protect seafarers, commissioned the local sculptor G. Cortese to build a statue.
Carved from a single block of marble, the precious "Perlato di Sicilia” (light ivory- coloured and extracted from the quarries of Custonaci), the marble statue is 5 meters high and weighs about 11 tons. It looks towards the sea and is located at the depth of 13 meters, off the coast of Mount Cofano, in the enchanting bay of Cornino.
In 2012, before it was placed on the seabed, the statue was blessed by the Bishop of Tra-pani. The event, both religious and environmental, has aimed at rediscovering an old de-votion and at revealing the undersea beauties of this area.
So, the effigy of Our Lady of Custonaci, that according to local tradition came 5 centuries ago from the sea, is back to the sea.
Its exact location is indicated by a red buoy: with a diving mask is possible to admire its beauty and majesty. Here, in the exact point, many diving centers organise beautiful un-derwater excursions.
Custonaci confirms and renews its religious devotion with Stella Maris, by adding a fas-cinating place for believers and diving enthusiasts.
