Enna, Sicily
Enna is bang in the centre of Sicily and has been of importance since classical times (when it was the Latin ‘Henna’), thanks to its imposing strategic position. High above the surrounding countryside (it’s the highest provincial capital in all Italy) the hilltop town sits on a table summit, surrounded by vertiginous green slopes dropping to the valley below - a remarkable vista that has seen it dubbed ‘belvedere’ (literally ‘beautiful view’). An apt name and there is much to see in the town itself. In days past, of course, this made the town easy to defend. We find Enna in the writings of no less than Cicero, Ovid and Pliny. Myth has it that it was from Enna that Proserpine was carried off by Pluto. Fittingly, Enna is now a centre for the study of archaeology and boasts the new Kore University of Enna, founded in 2004.
There are numerous important historical sights in Enna, including the Castello di Lombardia, with remains of the royal apartments, medieval prison and six of the original 20 towers. There is the Cathedral (Duomo) begun in the 14th century by Queen Eleonora. The Palazzo Varisano houses the Regional Archaeological Museum of Enna, and the Torre di Federico was (apparently) once the summer home of Frederick III of Aragon. See to the Campanile (belltower) of the now lost Church of San Giovanni, and the Municipal Library, the Church of San Tommaso (important 15th century belfry) and the Janniscuru Gate (the only survivor of the seven old town gates). Nearby sights include Lake Pergusa, with its Cozzo Matrice archaeological site.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
