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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 were formed 6 million years ago.

The Cathedral was entirely built by local miners and has 100m lenght, 20m width and 8m height.

Statues, bas-reliefs, altars are carved in the halite.

The 4th of December is Saint Barbara day, patron saint of armourers, artillerymen, military engineers, miners and others who work with explosives because of her old legend’s association with lightning, and also of mathematicians.

In that day the miners celebrate a religious function honoring Saint Barbara. The church can host 800 people.

Source: Wikipedia

Photos: Italkali.com