ENNA
sicilia
Sites: Lombardy Castle, Cathedral of Maria Santissima della Visitazione, Alessi Museum, Federico II's Tower.
Lombardy Castle
The "Castello di Lombardia" (Lombardy Castle) is one of the largest and most ancient edifices in Southern Italy, with an area of some 25,000 m2. The castle's origins are related to a fortress erected in the I millenium BC by the Sicani at the foundation of the ancient Henna, on a hill at 970 m over the sea level. It remained a key possession in the subsequent history of the island, and the Romans were able to conquer it only by passing through its sewer network. Under the castle was the ancient Sican temple of Ceres, origin of the widespread of the cult of that goddess in the whole Italy. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Castle was used by the Byzantines and resisted for many years to the Arab assaults. After their victory, the latter refounded the fortress around the X century; the castle was also used by their successors in Sicily, the Normans. Two centuries later, architect Riccardo da Lentini was commissioned by Frederic II, Emperor and King of Sicily, to restore it into a summer residence. He added 20 towers (now there are only three) and, as a legend wants, called in a garrison coming from the Langobardia minor (Calabria), whence the castle's name. With the advent of the artillery, the castle lost its primary strategic role and was turned into a prison. Currently it houses one of the most striking theatres in Italy, the "Teatro più vicino alle Stelle" (The Nearest Theatre to the Stars), used for opera and pop music concerts.
Cathedral of Maria Santissima della Visitazione
The Cathedral of Maria Santissima della Visitazione is the Mother Church of Enna. Declared National Monument, on May 16th 2008 it is also declared by the Unesco "Monument of Peace" and is among the major art expression in the Enna Province. The Cathedral rises in Piazza Mazzini in the historic centre of the town, near the Lombardy Castle. The Cathedral is built in more styles, from the Gothic to the Baroque, and is erected in 1307, on the ruins of a temple sacred to Proserpine (Kore for the Greeks), by Eleonora d'Angiò, Federico III d'Aragona's wife, for the birth of their child Pietro. In 1446 a fire destroyed completely it, except for the apse and part of the right side, so Pope Eugenio IV called a Jubilee for a term of 7 years with the aim to collect the necessary funds for the reconstruction of the Church; because the funds so collected were insufficient, King Alfonso d'Aragona sold various lands, and with the proceeds he was able to rebuilt the church in the XVI century. The main facade appears very majestic and impressive, because it was realized following canons of anomalous dimensions respect the tendency of the period. From a long stairs we can reach a portico with three portals, surrounded by 6 columns. The bell tower, of the XVII century, houses a bell of the weight of 101 quintals. The inside has a Latin cross plan with a nave and two aisles and it is particularly suggestive for the columns of black basalt decorate with XVI-century sculptures and relieves. It is also notable the closet of the Sacristy, masterpiece of the Sicilian wood art, and the chapel with the statue of Our Lady of the Visitation, Patron Saint of the town, studded of brilliants, diamonds and coloured gems.
Alessi Museum
The Alessi Museum of Enna shows the most important post-classic artistic collections of the central Sicily. The Museum houses the "Treasure of the Cathedral", a very richly collection of various pieces of Sicilian goldsmith's craft, from the XIII to the XIX century, among which necklaces, pendants, armlets, jewelleries, etc. The masterpiece of the Treasure is the Crown of Maria Santissima della Visitazione, that represented the major Sicilian jewel in Baroque style: wonderful inlaid in the white gold, studded of precious gems, with 6 medallions representing sacred scenes. The Alessi Museum houses also the variegated collection of the canon Giuseppe Alessi from Enna, that has left to his descendants paintings, pots, ancient objects and books. In the Museum there are also an archaeological section, a very wide numismatic section and an art gallery.
Federico II's Tower
The Federico II's Tower, an octagonal ancient tower, was allegedly a summer residence of Frederick II of Hohenstaufen. It is a fine example of medieval defense-tower construction and had three floors, the top one having collapsed. The aspect of the building is austere. It was part of a bigger complex, named Old Castle and destroyed by Arabs, of which nowadays there remain some pieces of the old, imposing walls on the top of the green hill housing municipal gardens where the Tower rises. Local legend maintains that the Hohenstaufen had it erected to mark the exact centre of Sicily and called it the "Tower of the Winds".
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