Red coral from Trapani

Sailko - CC3.0

A typical form of craftsmanship in Trapani is the processing of red coral. The origins of coral processing in Trapani date back to the 12th century, according to what was reported by the geographer Al-Idrisi, who praised the precious quality of the red coral from Trapani. Sicilian coral has been appreciated internationally for many centuries thanks to the craftsmanship of the coral masters. Today the situation has changed: once, off the coast of Trapani, coral was 30-40 meters deep but, after years of disrespectful fishing, coral from Trapani has become much rarer. It is found at great depths, between 70 and 90 meters, in small quantities. Fortunately, some coral shops still survive in the Trapani area where the ancient art of “curaddaru” is kept and handed down.