Caltanissetta - Definition and Overview

Caltanissetta is located on the western interior of Sicily, an area of rolling hills with small villages and towns. Caltanissetta was originally a Saracen settlement but was captured by the Normans in 1086. A charter was granted to the town in accordance with Count Roger's vat plan for the urbanisation of Sicily and the urban plan that is still in evidence today was laid out. Caltanissetta is the hub of public transport in the area.

Caltanissetta is home to the Museo Archeologico, which holds displays from mostly prehistoric times and include finds from digs conducted int eh 1950's, including vases and tools from the Bronze Age and early Sicilian ceramics. There is also the 17th-century cathedral that has a late-Renaissance appearance that breaks the characteristic Baroque mold of most of the island of Sicily. Inside are frescoes by Guglielmo Borremans.

To the west of Caltanissetta, there are the ruins of the Castello di Pietrarossa.

This city has long been stricken by poverty, especiallly the west side.

Caltanissetta is location of a transmitter of RAI for short- and longwave.

It is one of a few provinces that borders a commune which is the capital of another province and is Enna and one of the largest communes in the island.

Bounding communes

• Canicattì (AG)
• Delia
• Enna (EN)
• Marianopoli
• Mazzarino
• Mussomeli
• Naro (AG)
• Petralia Sottana (PA)
• Pietraperzia (EN)
• San Cataldo
• Santa Caterina Villarmosa
• Serradifalco
• Sommatino

External links

• Mapquest - Caltanissetta (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?tb=1&city=Caltanissetta&country=IT)
• SiciliaOnLine: Caltanissetta (http://www.siciliaonline.it/appasp/asp/caltanissetta/home.asp)
• Transmitter Caltanissetta (http://mediasuk.org/archive/cal_ant.html)