Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ENNA
POP 28,100 / ELEV 931M
Italy's highest provincial capital, Enna stands above the hills and valleys of central Sicily.
The town is a dramatic sight, seemingly impregnable atop a precipitous mountain. Inside
you'll discover a calm working centre with a handsome medieval core and, cloud cover
permitting, some fabulous views. There's not enough to warrant an extended stay but it is a
great place to escape the tourist pack and enjoy some cool mountain air, particularly in
summer when the sun bakes everything around to a yellow crisp.
The city has a long and varied history. In ancient times it was famous as the centre of a
cult of Demeter, but its strategic position meant that it was often fought over, and success-
ive waves of colonising forces conquered it, including the Carthaginians, Romans, Byzanti-
nes and Arabs. In 1087 the Normans wrested it from the Arabs and turned it into an import-
ant fortified town. Throughout much of its history, it remained an important agricultural
centre, supplying far-flung places with grain, wheat, cotton and cane, a tradition that con-
tinues today, albeit on a far smaller scale.
The Museo Alessi houses the valuable contents of the cathedral's treasury. It was unfor-
tunately closed in April 2007 due to a lack of funds, and locals and visitors are still eagerly
awaiting its reopening - if it has reopened when you visit, check out the museum's collec-
tion, originally the property of Canon Giuseppe Alessi (1774-1837), who left it to his
brother with the intention that he then donate it to the Church.
The town of Enna is split in two: the hilltop historic centre, Enna Alta, and the modern
town, Enna Bassa, below. Everything of interest is up in Enna Alta.
