Enna between Myth, History and Nature

Enna combines mythical landscapes, Swabian history and vibrant religious traditions with a natural area surrounding Lago di Pergusa. If you would like to combine culture and landscapes, you will encounter both distinctive buildings and an important protected area, as well as special feast days here.

Myth and Swabian History

The Rocca di Cerere is located on an almost isolated limestone sandstone peak that served as the sacred temenos of Demeter and Kore in classical times. The name also lives on in the geopark: the Rocca di Cerere gave it its name, and since 2001 the geopark has belonged to the European and Global Geoparks Networks.

The Torre di Federico II is considered one of the best-preserved Swabian monuments in Italy. During his stays in Sicily, it was used as the summer residence of the Swabian emperor. From the top of the Torre di Federico II, the Torre delle Aquile, Castello di Lombardia, the cathedral and Mount Etna can be seen.

Castello di Lombardia also represents the city's political history. It was there that Frederick II of Swabia convened the first Sicilian parliament. At the same time, Castello di Lombardia is one of the largest medieval castles in Italy. Enna Cathedral has a basilica-style layout with three naves and a transept and preserves Gothic and Aragonese architectural elements. Its furnishings include five altarpieces dating from the 18th century, attributed to the Flemish painter Guglielmo Borremans.

Museums with Different Approaches

The Museo del Mito in Enna is currently closed for renovation work. It is considered Italy's first fully multimedia museum and presents the myth in a contemporary form aimed at a broad audience. The Museo delle Confraternite designs its exhibition spaces around the guiding theme of the five senses and assigns one sense to each room.

The Museo Archeologico Regionale di Aidone focuses on Morgantina. The abandoned, Hellenized indigenous city reached its peak during the Hellenistic period. Aidone thus complements Enna's historical themes with its own perspective on the history of ancient settlement.

Processions and Fixed Dates

Holy Week in Enna includes a traditional procession of 16 confraternities. From Palm Sunday until Wednesday morning, it proceeds to the cathedral at one-hour intervals. During the Good Friday procession, around 2,500 masked members of the confraternities accompany the biers of the dead Jesus and Our Lady of Sorrows to the sound of various funeral marches.

Another notable date is July 2. The feast of the Madonna della Visitazione, celebrated annually on this day, begins with 101 cannon shots. It also includes a procession in which the patron saint's Vara, the Nave d'Oro, is carried.

Lago di Pergusa and Paths through the Landscape

Lago di Pergusa is a shallow, slightly brackish tectonic lake without inflows or outflows. The Riserva Naturale Lago di Pergusa covers 402.5 hectares in the municipality of Enna and is designated as the Natura 2000 SAC/SPA site ITA060002. It is an important resting and wintering area for waterbirds, as well as a breeding ground for the Sicilian rock partridge.

Lago di Pergusa is the more distant section of the Enna route and can be reached by public bus or car. This classification may be helpful when choosing your hotel if you would like to take the natural area into account alongside the historical sites. Parco Minerario Floristella Grottacalda offers visitor trails and a picnic area. Guided visits on other days and at other times must be arranged in advance.

More Places for Trip Planning

Pergusa, Pietraperzia, Regalbuto, Villarosa, Barrafranca, Assoro, Troina, Gagliano Castelferrato, Aidone, Enna, Centuripe, Sant'anna, Nissoria, Agira, Valguarnera Caropepe, Catenanuova, Calascibetta and Piazza Armerina.

For the higher-level travel overview: Sicily.