Audioguía The Via del Corallo - Ecomuseum of the 5 senses of Sciacca

A path between coral masters and goldsmiths of Sciacca, real experts of the artisanal
manufacturing of Sciacca’s coral, of which the first finding dates back to 1875. Vast
extensions of this coral were born due to the volcanic phenomenon of the Isola
Ferdinandea, which emerged in 1831.
The extraordinary and unique Coral of Sciacca differs from the others for the
uniqueness of its shade of colour, which goes from intense orange to pale salmon-pink
characterised by brown and sometimes black spots, which evidence its volcanic origin. It is
also eco-friendly because it is a sub-fossil, already dead in a natural process.
In Sciacca’s artisan workshops, through a guided process, visitors can delve into those
ancient techniques of manufacturing that take place thanks to the skilled hands of the coral
masters, who cut, smooth, and work with scrupulous attention one by one the tiny coral
branches leading you in an experiential tour during which the precious “sunken treasure”
comes to life, following the natural shapes of the material forged in the Mediterranean Sea.

Translated by Francesco Ferrara