Caltanissetta is a city and commune situated on the western side of the island of Sicily. The area is made up of rolling hills and small villages, with the Salso River running through it. It is located in an important position that overlooks the whole valley of the sauce, which extends to include Enna. The city itself lies between three hills, Sant'Anna, Monte San Giuliano e Poggio Sant'Elia.
The Maccalube of Terrapelata is also known as the hill of the volcanoes; it is a rare phenomenon of sedimentary volcanism. The hills here are barren and range in colour from white to a dark grey shade. The area has a number of mud volcanoes that bubble and the clay creates an appearance that resembles the real deal volcano.
The main sights here include the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Nova, which was built between 1560 and 1620 and was then opened to the public in 1622. The exterior facade was completed in 1840; the church is done in a late late-Renaissance style that goes against the grain of the majority of the island’s other buildings.
The Palazzo Vescovile, or Bishop’s Palace, is now the home of the Museum of Sacred Art and houses a painting by Gian Battista Corradini of the Madonna del Rosario, which was done back in 1614. The church of San Sebastiano was built in the 16th century and is particularly stunning. The city is also home to an archaeological museum, which has pieces mainly from the prehistoric times, such as Bronze Age tools and vases, as well as early Sicilian ceramics.
Two other notable monuments in the area are the Castle of Pietrarossa, Red Stone Castle and the Abbey of the Santo Spirito; the first stands on the edge of the city and dominates the landscape around it. It was built out of red brick, hence the name, and was built around 750 to 800. However, in 1567 an earthquake struck and the majority of the castle collapsed, all the remains today are two of the towers.
The second monument is the Abbey of the Santo Spirito and was built in 1092-1098, but wasn’t consecrated until 1153. It has been altered a number of times, however, the original form can still be seen in the rear of the building. The left hand entrance to the abbey has an ogival portal, which means it has a pointed archway that dates back to the 13th century and its walls and apses come from the 15th century.
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