Caltanissetta

The province is larger now than it was in the Middle-Ages, when the territory was under the control of Corrado Lancia. The Moncada Family built the castle (the ruins of which may still be seen today) when they occupied the territory at the beginning of the fifteenth century. The area is full of charming little towns such as Delia, Niscemi, and Mazzarino. The Church of San Sebastiano was erected in the 16th century but completely rebuilt two centuries later. It preserves one of the most beautiful wooden statues of the Saint and may be considered, along with the cathedral, as a symbol of the city. The 'Duomo' here is decorated with many stuccoes and frescoes by the artist Borremans. Vassallaggi, in the province of San Cataldo, is a small agricultural centre which once thrived on its potassium salt mines. There you can see a Bronze Age burial ground and many other finds from the Hellenic age. The Valley of the river Imera outlines the larger part of the Province. Here you can find examples of the mineral ore which long kept the area prosperous. The Castle of Mussomeli, built in 1370 by Manfredi the Third was made impregnable by its moat (which can still be seen), steep walls and a narrow entrance carved from a cleft in the rock.