Caltanissetta is the capital of the province of the same name and is one of the most centrally located cities in Sicily. The city has more than sixty thousand inhabitants. The biggest attractions are the Cathedral and the Santo Spirito Abbey.
Caltanissetta travel guide
Useful information
Tourist information: There is a tourist information center in the Palazzo del Carmine in the Piazza Garibaldi main square.
Town hall: Corso Umberto I, 134 – 93100 Caltanissetta; Phone: +39 0934 74111.
Railway station: There are two railway stations. Caltanissetta Centrale is on the Caltanissetta-Agrigento line and Caltanissetta Xirbi, on the Palermo-Catania line.
Caltanissetta neighborhoods
The Corso Umberto I runs right through the historic center and is considered the main street of the city. A second important street is Corso Vittorio Emanuele, which intersects Corso Umberto I in the heart of the city (near Piazza Garibaldi). The center is thus divided into the four districts of San Francesco, San Rocco, Santa Venera-Santa Flavia and Zingari.
Tourist attractions
Corso Umberto I
The main churches on Corso Umberto I are the Santa Lucia Church and the Sant’Agata al Collegio Church with its imposing facade. The most interesting historical buildings on this street are the Palazzo della Banca di Sicilia, the Palazzo della Banca d’Italia and the Palazzo del Carmine.
Corso Vittorio Emanuele
The Corso Vittorio Emanuele has a length of just over half a kilometer. It runs right through the center to the Badia, at the intersection with Via Re d’Italia. At this point the name changes to Via Vespri Siciliani.
Piazza Garibaldi
Piazza Garibaldi is the main square in the historic center of the city. Important monuments in the square are the Cathedral, built in 1570 and dedicated to Santa Maria la Nova and San Michele, the San Sebastiano Church from the 14th century and the Fontana del Tritone.
Other churches
The Santa Maria degli Angeli Church was built by the Normans. The San Domenico Church dates back to the 14th century.
Other attractions
The Fontana del Cavallo Marino (“Seahorse Fountain”) was built in 1890. Archaeological sites outside the city include Sabucina and Gibil Gabib. Ruins of the Pietrarossa Castle can still be seen.
Historical buildings
Teatro Regina Margherita | Palazzo Benintende | Palazzo Testasecca |
Museums Caltanissetta
The most famous museums are the National Regional Museum, where archaeological finds from the region itself are displayed, and the Galleria Moncada. The latter is located in the Palazzo Moncada, built between 1635 and 1638.
Besides these, Caltanissetta has a number of smaller museums.
A brief history of Caltanissetta
Caltanissetta was founded by Greek-Sicilian populations, as evidenced by numerous archaeological finds in the area. Later, the city was plundered and inhabited first by the Romans and then by the Arabs. In the medieval period, the territory fell under the jurisdiction of the Normans. Among the various feudal families that provided the administration of the village are the Chiaromonte and the Moncada of Paternò.
How to get to Caltanissetta by car
The city is located along the A19 highway between Palermo and Catania.