ENNA, SICILY Enna, recalled by Claudianus, Diodorus Siculo, Cicero, Livy and other ancient historians for the cult of Demetra and Kore, was an impregnable fortress since the times of Sicani. On the upper part of the town it stands out the Cerere's Rock, the centre of Demetra-Cerere's cult. It was a centre of great military importance under the Greeks and Romans. During the Norman period had moments of great splendour under Frederick the 2nd and his successors. On the upper part of the town stands the Lombardia Castle, the most ancient and one of the best preserved castle in Sicily. It is also worth being visited the Cathedral (14th century), the Tower of Frederick the 2nd, and the little Alessi Museum which contains more than two thousand Siculo-Punic and Siculo-Greek and a few thousand of Roman and Byzantine coins.
Agira is the birthplace of the
Greek historian Diodorus Siculo (1st century b.C.). Places to
visit: the ruins of the Norman castle, St. Philip Church (14th
century) with paintings by Sozzi and Randazzo and the remarkable
works of Gagini, the Church of S. Maria Maggiore, St. Salvatore's
Church, built in Norman age.
This little center, founded by
lombard Settlers in Norman Age, still preserves, on the upper
part of the town, the ruins of the castle. It is rich of religious
buildings such as St. Leone's Church, St. Anna's Church with
its precious wooden crucifix (16th century), St. John's Church,
the Church of S. Maria la Cava, and the impressive Church of
St. Domenico. Five kilometers from Aidone is one of the most
important archaeological sites in Europe, Morgantina. The first
settlement belongs to an italic tribe, the Morgeti, in the 17th
century b.C.. The town became Greek in the 6th century b.C. and
then Roman.
This small town, founded in 1450
b.C., famous in the Norman Age, was recalled by Cicero for its
resistance to Verre's robberies. In the Middle Age was a royal
town and then feudal under the Valguarneras. Places to visit:
the Cathedral with a gothic-catalan portal and a ligneous coffered
ceiling of Renaissance Age, the baronial palace of Valguarnera's
family.
Roman fortification known as
Calloniana, in 1529 took its name under Barresi's family. Places
to visit: the Cathedral (18th century - late Sicilian baroque)
with a painting attributed to Filippo Paladino, and the St. Benedict's
Monastery, masterpiece of late baroque.
The ancient Kalat-Xibet was founded
by Arabians in 851, in order to fight and occupy Enna during
the bloody wars between the Christians and Saracens. Palces to
visit: the Cathedral (14th century), the Cappuccini's Church
(1589) with a remarkable painting by Filippo Paladino. Around
the town there are the Realmese necropolis (10-6th century b.C.)
and the Malpasso necropolis (2000 b.C.) made up of five burial
caves.
Rises in Dittaino's Valley. It
was founded in 1754 by Prince Andrea Statella. Near the town
there is the Sanctuary of Mount Scalpello, arisen during the
Byzantine empire in Sicily.
It was one of the oldest and
once most powerful towns in central Sicily. Very famous during
the Greek.Roman period, it was destroyed by Sextus Pompeus in
the year 30 b.C.. The ruins of the ancient town are still evident
and the rich archaeological patrimony is in various Italian and
foreign museums and also in the Antiquarium of the town. Places
to visit: the Cathedral (17th century), a little roman villa
with mosaic floors, the remains of the Corradino's castle from
the imperial age.
Cerami, (4th century b.C.) had
its best splendour during the Middle Age and the Norman period.
Places to visit: the ruins of the Norman Castle, the Cathedral
(16th century), the beautiful St. Benedict's Church, that preserves
one Gagini's sculpture and a painting by Velasquez. On the mount
that overlooks the town it has been discovered an ancient necropolis.
It is a typical mountain centre
placed on the ridge of Herean Chain. Places to visit: St. Cataldo's
Church (16th century) and the Church of Santa Maria di Gesù
(1600).
It was founded by Placido Nicola
Branciforte in the 17th century. The magnificent Great Fountain
with its 24 water-pipes, 22 round arcades and an ornament in
a volute and aedicule way, belongs to the same period. It is
worth being visited the Cappuccini's Church, the Cathedral (18th
century), Branciforte palace (1620).
The town got its best splendour
during the Norman Age. The Cathedral of St. Nicolò belongs
to this period and although it was made again in the following
centuries, it preserves Gothic elements. Inside the church there
is an interesting ligneous ceiling painted with sacred and profane
subjects. It is also worth visiting the Churches of S. Maria
Maggiore, San Calogero, San Biagio and San Vincent.
One of the newest town (1757),
is located between Dittaiono's and Salso valleys.
t has pre-Roman origin, and dues
its best splendour under the rule of the Norman Count Roger.
It is known above all for the mosaics of the Roman Villa of Casale.
These mosaics are the most important archeological discoveries
of the Roman Sicily for their inestimable artistic value. Piazza
Armerina preserves its artistic-monumental estate with its Churches
and its ancient Palaces. Places to visit: the Cathedral (1627)
with its gothic bell-tower, the "Commenda", a gothic
Church of the 12th century, Trigona's palace (1700) and the Town
Hall built in 1733 as Benedictine convent.
Stone is the main element in
the town.. Roads, buildings and houses in the old centre of the
town are made of this hard, white stone. Places to visit: Governor's
Mansion, the Cathedral (16th century) that preserves some works
of Paladino's and the beautiful sarcophagus of Prince Barresi
of Pietraperzia, St. Nicolò's Church, Caterva Church in
a Greek-Byzantine style, the Sanctuary of Maria SS. Della Cava.
Maybe the ancient "Ameselon"
narrated by Diodorus Siculo, was built around the 5th-4th century
b.C.. During a war it was razed to the ground and then rebuilt
with the name of Rahl-Butau. Places to visit: the Cathedral (18th
century), the Municipal hall, the Church of S. Maria della Croce
(15th century), the Church of S. Maria delle Grazie in baroque
style, Falcone's palace ('700) and Compagnini's palace in Sicilian
liberty style.
It was built by Normans in the
11th century as a castle. Its history it's strictly connected
to the period of "Vespri Siciliani" (1282), when the
French took refuge in it when the Vespri revolt against them.
"Quod Siculis placuit sola Sperlinga negavit", Sperlinga
alone refused what pleased the Sicilians; this sentence, written
on the archway of the castle hall is the key to understand the
history of the town. Besides the castle it is worth being visited
The Grots of Balzo, in the built up area, excavated in the superposed
rows with opposite narrow streets.
The origin of Troina are very
old, but the period of its major splendour dates back to the
time when Count Conte Ruggero d'Altavilla, in the 11th century,
took up residence in the town, and made it his stronghold and
departure base for his military campaigns. Places to visit: the
Norman castle of Count Ruggero, the Norman Cathedral, the treasure
and the fercolo of St. Silvestro, St. Nicolò's Church,
the Basilica del Carmine. Towards the valley there is the archaeological
site with ruins of the small Church of Catena and the ancient
necropolis.
A little centre between the Herean
Chain and Rossomanno, founded in 1600 by Prince Valguarnera.
Places to visit: the Cathedral with nave and two side aisles
and a monumental façade dated back to the 17th century
, the Church of St. Antonio da Padova. Near the town is the Castle
of Gresti or Pietratagliata built in Medieval period.
Built in 1761 it's situated on
the hilly territory near Morello lake. There is an interesting
Church, the Cathedral, of the 18th century.
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