Maiorana Historic Kilns – Industrial Archaeology in Palermo

Discover Maiorana Historic Kilns in Palermo: a rare example of industrial archaeology featuring kilns, a crushing mill, and underground tunnels, now restored and open to visitors.

Maiorana Historic Kilns represent one of the most fascinating examples of industrial archaeology in Palermo.
The complex, built above an ancient 18th-century stone quarry, included a crushing mill for aggregate production and two large kilns dedicated to quicklime production, an essential material for post-war construction.
Spread across three levels, one of which is underground, the site still preserves machinery, rail carts, basins, and tools once used in the production process, offering an authentic journey into the city’s industrial past.
Once, workers and young laborers known as “carusi” extracted and crushed stone from Monte Pellegrino, while horse-drawn carts transported the material to the kilns.
Thanks to the dedication of the Maiorana heirs, the site is now open to visitors and enhanced through restoration works that have preserved its historical memory.
A unique place to relive the industrial history of the city and rediscover the value of work and Palermo’s artisanal tradition.