Extraction is a deeply rooted practice in the Rocca di Cerere Geopark area, whose extraordinary geology has, for millennia, preserved a mineral, sedimentary and rock heritage of exceptional value, profoundly influencing local life. It is a theme that invites reflection on the relationship between humans and the Earth, exploring how the extraction of natural resources has not only shaped the landscape, but also the economies, cultural identities and social structures of Central Sicily.
The very act of extraction implies intervention in the area, resulting in environmental modification and ongoing cultural transformation.
This brings together economic, ecological and historical aspects.
Exploring this theme means critical consideration of mineral and geological resources, as well as understanding how these have shaped social organisation, technical expertise, local knowledge and identitary narratives.

This is a key point for understanding the symbiotic relationship between the natural environment and the local community in the Rocca di Cerere Geopark area.
The agricultural landscape, shaped by traditional methods and modern innovations, is the result of millennia of interaction between people and land.
This interaction has given rise to agricultural biodiversity, distinctive flavours, agronomic techniques and water management systems.
The annual cycle of sowing and harvesting is both a productive activity and a cultural ritual that defines community life.
Cultivation is also a way of caring for the area, preserving plant genetic heritage and promoting traditional knowledge.
This theme explores how cultivation represents a cornerstone of social cohesion, local identity and environmental sustainability.

Construction is a lens through which we can understand the anthropised landscape of the ecomuseum.
Construction refers not only to the physical building of facilities or infrastructure, but also to the area’s symbolic and cultural construction, shaped by building practices that have been handed down over the years and continuously reinterpreted.
In the context of the Rocca di Cerere Geopark, construction involves knowing how to live with and adapt to specific environmental conditions, and interpreting local materials – such as stone, clay, wood and water – for architectural and functional purposes.
This theme allows us to explore how artefacts, villages, rural facilities and hydraulic works serve as living testimonies to human interaction with the environment, and as tangible expressions of the ability of local communities to adapt and innovate.

An introduction to the cultural and symbolic aspects that are essential for an understanding of the Rocca di Cerere Geopark ecomuseum area. Exploring the myths, founding narratives, beliefs and ritual practices of the local communities, this theme reveals their vision of the world and their relationship with nature and the universe. In the heart of Sicily, an area traversed by thousands of years of history and overlapping cultures, cosmogonies recount how communities have interpreted their place in the world throughout time. This theme enables us to understand the area not only through its physical landscape, but also through the intangible narratives, symbols and stories passed down through generations, which help shape the local communities’ sense of belonging and cultural awareness.