Enna, Italy

Welcome to Enna, a city and comune located at the center of Sicily, southern Italy, in the province of Enna. Enna, known as Castrogiovanni in the Middle Ages until 1926, earned the nicknames belvedere (panoramic viewpoint) and ombelico (navel) of Sicily. Towering above the surrounding countryside at 931 m (3,054 ft) above sea level, Enna is the highest Italian provincial capital. Enna has a rich history that dates back to prehistoric times. Archaeological excavations have revealed artifacts dating from the 14th century BCE, proving human presence in the area since Neolithic times. The ancient city was placed on the level summit of a gigantic hill, forming one of the strongest natural fortresses in the world. Enna became renowned in Sicily and Italy for the cult of the goddess Demeter (the Roman Ceres) and her grove was known as the umbilicus Siciliae (The navel of Sicily). The neighborhood of Enna is celebrated in myth as the place whence Persephone (Latin: Proserpine) was carried off by Pluto, god of the underworld, and the spot assigned by local tradition as the scene of this event was a small lake surrounded by lofty and precipitous hills, about 8 km from Enna. Enna has an important military architecture in Sicily, Castello di Lombardìa (Lombardy Castle), which was built by Sicanians, rebuilt by Frederick II of Sicily, and restructured under Frederick II of Aragon. The castle is named for the garrison of Lombard troops that defended it in the Norman era. Enna has a prominent role in the Sicilian Vespers that led to the Aragonese conquest of Sicily, and thenceforth enjoyed a short communal autonomy. King Frederick III of Sicily favored it and embellished the city; it suffered a period of decay under the Spanish domination. It was restored as provincial capital in the 1920s. Enna is now an important center for archaeological and educational studies, and the Kore University of Enna was officially founded in 2002. The most important monuments of Enna are Castello di Lombardìa, Duomo of Enna (Cathedral), Palazzo Varisano, Torre di Federico, Campanile of the destroyed church of San Giovanni, Municipal Library in the San Francesco building, and San Tommaso church. Come and explore the rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and mouthwatering local cuisine of Enna, Italy.