The province of Enna has got all the elements to make Sicily so unique: here there come myths, legends, ancient ruins, history, tradition and nature. During a walk in the woods you can discover idyllic places and crystal clear mountain lakes. During the visit, you can feel the pulsating life as it was lived through the succession of history.
Enna
A city in the clouds
In the heart of Sicily and at 1098 meters above sea level, on Mount San Giuliano, Enna is the highest capital city of the peninsula. The city is also known as "Belvedere of Italy" because it dominates the whole of Sicily due to location and provides a unique environment. Uniquely, the province has got sources in sea. Between the Apennines and Mount Etna in Sicily there are several plateaus. Enna is considered as the heart of the Roman Empire of the island with important historical, cultural and artistic evidence.
The ruins
In the province of Enna there are numerous archaeological sites of past periods and testimonials from people who have migrated to this area. You should definitely connect the visit of Enna with a visit to Piazza Armerina with the famous Villa del Casale. The villa is one of the most characteristic Roman ruins of the island and has remained virtually intact until now. The special charm of the building is mainly based on the mosaics representing the history of the great empires and the recurring elements of late Romanesque period. Near to Piazza Armerina we can arrive in one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe, Morgantina. Through the Agorà we will notice the atmosphere lived at the time. The Municipal Museum of Aidone preserves a large collection of artifacts belonged to the ancient citadel. Here you will find the "woman lying", "the mysterious face of Persephone" and "facial features of a veiled woman" to captivate visitors. It is also intriguing the area of Calascibetta, which were discovered about four cemeteries. The most famous is the necropolis of Realmese, which includes more than 300 graves of exceptional charm.
Impressive cities
In the villages and small towns of the province of Enna you will discover the history of past period, which is reflected in the architectural monuments and castles. A fascinating place is Calascibetta, situated on a hill in front of Enna. Leonforte, an ancient city with narrow streets and low houses, that is dominated by the magnificent Palazzo del Principe. It is also interesting the place Assoro, where you can visit the ruins of the castle of Valguarnera. Forward there is Nicosia - City of Art, located on the slopes of the Nebrodi.
Beautiful sceneries
The province of Enna is rich in fascinating and varied landscapes that are of particular interest for tourism. Here you can enjoy a relaxing walk through woods or on the banks of a lake; you can also go fishing or sunbathing. In the province there are eight lakes including Lake Pergusa, Lake Pozzillo in Regalbuto, Lake Ancipa in Troina, Lake Ogliastra in the area of Aidone and Lake Nicoletti in Leonforte. The lake is a great Pozillo natural oasis with a magnificent view where you can see the top of the Etna. The lakes and reed Nicoletti are also important- popular destinations for lovers of fishing and water skiing. The most famous lake is Lake Pergusa, with the myth of the "Rat of Proserpine". Here you will find extremely rare microorganisms that contribute to a globally unique phenomenon: the lake water turns red at regular intervals, giving to the area a special charm.
Religious Events
In the province, there are many occasions of celebrations. Above all, the residents of Enna are characterized by a great devotional fervor. There is the "Festive Table of St. Joseph", which is celebrated in several communities, including Leonforte, Barra Franca, Centuripe and Valguarnera. These large round tables are decorated with flowers where it is served braided bread, pasta, vegetables, fried food and sweets. Easter time is ideal for visiting Enna, with events around the city.
Kitchen
The gastronomy of the province is mainly focused on agricultural products and livestock products. The food is simple but tasty: including "maccu" with broad beans - the soup more widespread in the province; "Guastedde of Enna", "Pasta with favuzze"; "Pasta alla Norma" with fried eggplant, first salt cheese and basil. It is great the selection of sweets: "cassatele of Agira" - typical Sicilian sweet -; "Cubbaita" - nougat with honey, almonds and sesame seeds.
Distances from Enna
Caltanissetta 36 Km
Catania 87 Km
Siracusa 137 Km
Messina 183 Km
Palermo 142 Km
Ragusa 122 Km
Agrigento 85 Km
Trapani 244 Km
Piazza armerina
The Roman "villa del Casale"
Piazza Armerina is a splendid city of art in the heart of Sicily, whose historic masterpieces of art still characterize the cityscape intact. Monuments, ancient palaces and archaeological sites are the true testimony to a glorious past. Protagonist among the many attractions is the Roman villa Del Casale from the end of the 4th Century, then residence of a Roman noble family. This impressive imperial villa is located in the province of Enna, in the Roman heart of Sicily. A remarkable villa whose charm is characterized mainly by the enchanting mosaics. These are considered to be the most beautiful and best preserved of their kind and the fine work with which these clear and precise pictures and the numerous shades of color were created, received in 1997 the recognition of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The beauty and the unique splendor of the architecture and its decoration, make this villa one of the most significant examples of a representative villa of the time. The villa dates from the period 320-350 AD. and seems to be the property of a Roman, aristocratic senatorial family, probably a governor of Rome (Praefctus Urbi). According to other theories, this was built and expanded for a high emperor officer, Maximus Erculeus, Tetrarch of Diocletian. Important excavations in the middle of the 20th century revealed about 3,500 square meters of floor and wall mosaics in a geometric and illustrated style, as well as columns, statues, capitals and gold coins. The lifestyle of the homeowner is celebrated on the basis of these floor and wall mosaics as well as the pageantry, which is visible in all living spaces.
Also visible here is an African influence that points to the work of African masters. These mosaics show various styles and narrative cycles: one dedicated to mythology and Homer's poetry, another to nature and the everyday life of the Roman aristocracy. Four are the areas of the villa exposed by the excavations: the monumental entrance with the courtyard in horseshoe shape; The central body of the villa, built around a courtyard with a garden; A big sala with three absinthes (Trichora); The thermal system. In December 2012, the restoration work was completed, which concerned a large part of the mosaics and murals.
Today you can visit various areas of the site: the area of the thermal baths; the entrance portico and the arch of honor; the vestiarium and the peristyle portico; the care areas such as the Little Hunt room, the Great Jadg corridor and the Palestrite room; the northern mansions with the mosaic of Hercules and Polyphemos and the "Cupid and Psyche" room; the southern mansions depicting the myth of the Areion and the Eros and Pan room; triclinium and portico; the Basilica.
