Monte degli Ulivi

Monte degli Ulivi is a building complex in Riesi, Sicily, composed of six modernist structures arranged on a hillside. The compound includes educational facilities, residential buildings, a library, and vocational training areas.

The complex was built between 1963 and 1966 as an outreach initiative by the Waldensian Church to establish a center in Sicily. Architect Leonardo Ricci designed the project to combine education and community in a region lacking such services.

The complex serves as a gathering place for education and community living, with classrooms, a library, and shared residential spaces. It represents a model where different generations live and learn together in one location.

The site is best explored on foot to appreciate the layout and surrounding landscape. Walking across the hillside at a slow pace allows you to move between buildings and observe the agricultural areas with olive and almond trees.

The roofs feature curved organic forms made of white-plastered concrete that adapt to the sloping terrain. This experimental roofing approach from the 1960s represents an early attempt to integrate modern architecture with the natural landscape.

Location: Riesi

Inception: 1966

Architects: Leonardo Ricci

Address: Via Monte degli Ulivi 6

Website: https://serviziocristiano.org

GPS coordinates: 37.27531,14.08800

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:28