Caltanissetta is a city in Sicily known for sulfur extraction and nice, historic buildings. Thanks to its location on a hill, you can enjoy beautiful views of the central part of the island.
Although it is known that these areas were already inhabited in antiquity, the first written mentions of Caltanissetta come from Arab times. At that time, the castle of Pietrarossa was erected here, the ruins of which are today among the most important monuments. Below the fortress there is an old quarter built mostly after the great earthquake that hit the area in the mid-16th century.
Among the important monuments of Caltanissetta are the baroque cathedral of Santa Maria Nova, the Church of St. Sebastian, the Moncada Palace, which now houses the city museum.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Caltanissetta deteriorated significantly, but a new impetus for development came in the mid-19th century, when sulfur deposits were discovered in the vicinity of the city. As a result, the mining industry developed here, which brought high income. The history of sulfur mining is recalled by the exhibitions at the mineralogical and palaeontological museum, which is one of the most important attractions of Caltanissetta.
