Enna

Enna's ancient name of "Castrum Iohannis"(still remembered by some of the older people)recalls the city's original role of fortress and strategic outpost at the center of Sicily. It is built upon a rock over 1.000 meters high making it the highest provincial chief town in Italy in the 11th century the Norman kings who tried in vain to conquer it felt that the "Navel of Sicily" as it was after referred to, symbolized the Sicilian people's ability to defend their freedom. The area in fact saw numerous wars: Romans, Arabs and Greeks all fought to gain dominance of its strategic position and thus control the valley. This strategic value so important in the middle-ages began to fade in the 17th century and led to a decline both in the city and the province. The city nevertheless managed to maintain its charm, throughout the Baroque period with its many-towered medieval appearance, so rare in other Sicilian towns. More recently, many of the towns in the province have contributed towards firmly establishing their area in the agricultural and service sectors of the Sicilian market. Piazza Armerina famous for its monuments and archaeological sites: Sperlinga, never forgotten for having supported the angevine during the 'Sicilian Vespers", Nicosia, a town where an ancient Gallic language is spoken due to its colonization by "Lombardi" and "Piemontesi" in the Norman Age. These are but a few of the towns trying to make the most of their agricultural resources to provide employment for the people in that area.