Piazza Vittorio Emanuele

If Enna could be said to have its own main square, this is certainly Piazza Vittorio Emanuele along Via Roma. Wide, landscaped and walkable, although partly used as a car park, it has the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi next to it and municipal offices such as the Sala Cerere, the Galleria Civica with its temporary exhibitions, and the city library, all in the historic Palazzo Chiaramonte. In the adjacent Piazza Francesco Crispi, the belvedere in Enna is more important for tourism, indeed, it is essential, where the view of the town of Calascibetta and the Madonìe mountains is stunning. Returning to the same spot in the evening, to enjoy the lights of the night skyline, is definitely a good idea. 

If you return from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele to the Duomo and the castle, along Via Roma, you will pass by the buildings of the twenty-year Fascist period, when Enna had become the provincial capital: the town hall had originally been the Casa del Fascio. In the opposite direction, just beyond the abrupt corner of Via Roma in the direction of Piazza Neglia and the tower of Federico II, the Church of San Cataldo is worth two more steps, high on its staircase in Piazza Matteotti. The origins of the building date back to the 14th century, but the current layout is from the mid 18th century. The stuccoes inside date back to that time, while the most important works of art predate it: a marble ancona with the Madonna, Child and Saints attributed to Giandomenico Gagini, a large marble polyptych with Scenes from the Passion, and in the presbytery, a painted cross from the 15th century. Transparent slabs on the floor reveal the archaeological excavations carried out underground.