Mirabella Imbaccari: Mostra Permanente del Tombolo

Via Alcide De Gasperi - 95040 Mirabella Imbaccari tel. 0933/991620

Opening hours: 9 A.M. - 12 A.M.; closed on public holidays. Entrance: Free. Services: Guided tours, research assistance, access facilities for disabled people. Transport from Catania: AST bus service.

Beside the typical agricultural production Mirabella Imbaccari, is a typically local artistic centre: the main artistic production is the lace-pillow embroidery. It is a very thin fabric, obtained by the weaving of a flax thread and of a cotton one by means of wood bobbins, skilfully manouvred by expert hands on a sort of pillow, more precisely the lace-pillow. This job dates back to the beginning of the century: the "Opera del Tombolo" rises as a social institution to give work to the local female youth where the princes of Biscari from Catania spent their free time. In 1910 the initiative was officially recognized following the arrival of four nuns of the order of Santa Dorotea, called to continue the work which had already begun. From then on, the lace-pillow became a typical activity of the village, in fact in 1986 a "Mostra Permanente del Tombolo" (a permanent show of the lace-pillow) was inaugurated. In the halls of the ex preparatory school, it has an important series of these characteristic works.

Provincial Tourism Board of Catania
http://www.apt-catania.com
E-mail : apt@apt-catania.com