Enna

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

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. Back

AIDONE

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.

ASSORO

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.

BARRAFRANCA

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.

CALASCIBETTA

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.

CATENANUOVA

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.

CENTURIPE

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

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.

GAGLIANO CASTELFERRATO

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).

LEONFORTE

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).

NICOSIA

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.

NISSORIA

One of the newest town (1757), is located between Dittaiono's and Salso valleys.

PIAZZA ARMERINA

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.

PIETRAPERZIA

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.

REGALBUTO

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.

SPERLINGA

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.

TROINA

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.

VALGUARNERA CAROPEPE

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.

VILLAROSA

Built in 1761 it's situated on the hilly territory near Morello lake. There is an interesting Church, the Cathedral, of the 18th century.