WHAT TO SEE IN ENNA?

Itineraries in Enna

1) Tower of Frederick II and the Cathedral

Enna has been an almost impregnable stronghold of Siculians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Swabians, and Aragonese. Enna stands at the highest part of a wide mountain ridge, towering over the Dittaino valley. Enna Cathedral, dedicated to Mary Most Holy of the Visitation, is the city's mother church, a remarkable example of medieval ecclesiastical architecture with imposing Corinthian colonnades, three naves and three apses. The facade is majestic, with a bell tower whose bell is of considerable size. Inside are valuable paintings and chandeliers. The Tower of Frederick II represents, the major architectural symbol of the city of Enna, as well as its most imposing military bulwark of the medieval age. The octagonal-shaped tower was built by Emperor Frederick II on the probable remains of the Greek theater. Its octagonal shape, suggests that it was used for the compass rose. The tower stands atop a tree-lined knoll. From its top the view sweeps over the entire upper city and the valleys below, all the way to Mount Etna.

2) Fortress of Ceres and Castle of Lombardy

The castle of Lombardy stands on the land where, subsisted a shrine dedicated to Ceres, in Norman times was transformed into a castle. The name comes from the Lombard infantrymen who occupied it in the retinue of Queen Adelaide of Monferrato, wife of Roger I of Sicily. Of the initial 20 towers, the Pisan Tower is the best preserved. Objects and remains from various periods have been found there. The castle's location offers a vast panorama, ranging from the Madonie Mountains to Mount Etna, Lake Pergusa and two reservoirs are visible, and much of central and eastern Sicily. It was once a venue, for concerts and theatrical performances, at the vast enclosure of San Nicola or degli Armati, which could accommodate up to 5,000 people. Not far from the castle stands the Rocca di Cerere built in the direction of the rising sun, a place of worship and an integral part of the nearby sanctuary: the sacrificial altar used for more than a thousand years, by Sicans, Greeks and Romans, for the worship of the harvest goddess, Demeter, can still be glimpsed.

3) Pergusa Lake

Pergusa is a lake in Sicily located in the vicinity of Enna. Despite its modest size it is of great geological, wildlife and cultural importance, and because of this a special nature reserve was established there. In the classical world, "The Rape of Persephone," one of the most fascinating mythological episodes, was celebrated in Pergusa in the mists of time. The body of water is a neuralgic area for the migratory flow of birds because of its geographical location and the fact that it is a wet oasis in a landscape for long months dominated by drought. Along the shore of the lake is the Pergusa Autodrome-a very important racetrack about 5 km long. Built in 1951, it has been the scene of prestigious international events including Formula 1, the World Superbike Championship and the Targa Florio, in which many legendary names in international motorsport have taken part. Among the competitions held at the Pergusa racetrack are the Formula 1 Mediterranean Grand Prix. The racetrack reached 100,000 attendees at the 1997 Ferrari Day, which saw the participation of Michael Schumacher, among other champions.

4) Piazza Armerina

Piazza Armerina is an ancient city of medieval layout with a fine Baroque and Norman historic center. It is known as the "City of Mosaics and the Norman Palio," on its territory is the Roman Villa del Casale with its famous mosaics, since 1997 a World Heritage Site of the 'UNESCO. Piazza Armerina is a city of art with a strong tourist appeal for its valuable archaeological, historical, artistic and natural heritage. The Roman Villa del Casale is a late antique residential building, popularly referred to as a villa despite the fact that it does not have the characteristics of the suburban Roman villa as much as of the urban noble or imperial palace, the remains of which are located about four kilometers from the town center. African craftsmen worked to create the splendid mosaics of the villa, covering an area of about 3500 m². The Cathedral of Piazza Armerina, dedicated to Maria Santissima Delle Vittorie, is a large building of worship in a mixed Gothic, Mannerist and Baroque style.

5) Nicosia

Nicosia 'city of St. Nicholas,' is said to have been founded in the Byzantine era around the 7th century. Roger repopulated Nicosia with Lombard peoples who gave the city a very distinctive Gallo-Italic dialect, still spoken by adults today. Nicosia Cathedral, dedicated to St. Nicholas of Bari, was built around 1340 as an extension of a pre-existing chapel and has undergone considerable transformations over the centuries. It features a major portal of Gothic-Norman style, adorned with an ornamentation of Romanesque motifs in which acanthus leaves predominate. The interior features the marble triptych of the "Redeemer" and the baptismal font, carved in marble with depictions of "Adam and Eve in Eden."

6) Sperlinga

Sperlinga is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Located in the heart of central Sicily, between the majestic Nebrodi and Madonie mountain ranges, this fascinating place boasts an area rich in caves carved into the sandstone rock. The Sperlinga Castle is a rare example of a rock castle, with one part carved directly into the rock, probably dating back to a period before the Greek domination of the Siculi, and one part built on the same rock around 1080. Inside the entrance hall of the castle, there is a Latin inscription engraved on an ogival arch, the work of the Prince of the Castle Giovanni Natoli. This inscription, called 'Quod Siculis placuit, sola Sperlinga negavit', refers to the events of the Sicilian Vespers, when a French garrison of Angevins barricaded themselves inside the castle and resisted the siege for over a year.

7) Villa Romana del Casale

The Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most important examples of a Late Antique residence, famous for its more than 3,000 m² of mosaics. Built in the first half of the 4th century AD on the remains of an earlier villa, it was the center of a vast estate and a place of representation, perhaps belonging to a high-ranking member of the Roman aristocracy, such as a Praefectus Urbi. The villa is arranged over several levels, divided into four main areas: the official reception rooms, the banquet and cult halls, the residential quarters with service rooms, and the passageways. The mosaics, crafted by African masters, reflect the prestige and culture of the owner, with scenes of hunting, mythology, and daily life. In later centuries the building underwent defensive adaptations before gradually being abandoned. Medieval settlements known as Palàtia rose on the site, later destroyed in 1161, while the present-day Piazza Armerina was founded shortly afterward by the Normans.

8) Morgantina Archaeological Site

In the heart of Sicily, between the hills of Aidone and Piazza Armerina, lie two treasures that recount distant stories. Morgantina, an ancient city of Sicel and later Hellenistic origin, was abandoned in the 1st century AD, leaving it preserved almost intact, as if suspended in time. Among its ruins can still be seen the theater, aristocratic houses, and even a rare Hellenistic bath complex—an invaluable testimony to the flourishing life of a community linked to Agrigento and the great history of ancient Sicily. A short distance away stands the majestic Roman Villa del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of Roman Sicily. Center of a vast estate, it was both residence and representation space, decorated with more than 3,500 m² of splendid mosaics—among the finest of the ancient world. Hunting scenes, myths, and depictions of daily life celebrated the status of the dominus and still today enchant visitors with their vibrancy. Together, Morgantina and the Villa del Casale tell two extraordinary chapters of Sicilian history: the Greek world and the Roman world, which here meet and intertwine, leaving indelible traces in the landscape and memory.

9) Calascibetta

Ranked among the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy, Calascibetta rises in the heart of Sicily as a place suspended between history and enchantment. Walking from Piazza Umberto I to the Mother Church and the Tower of San Pietro, one enters a medieval village that still preserves the imprint left by the Normans from the year 1000 onward. The Mother Church, once a Royal Palatine Chapel, was built over the ruins of Marco Castle, an Arab fortress that recalls the very origins of the town’s name, derived from Arabic and meaning “fortress.” In the Middle Ages, the town was home to a flourishing Jewish community, which enlivened the district known in dialect as Iudia, still remembered today in the name of Via Giudea. Every corner of Calascibetta preserves traces of different civilizations and cultures, making this small town a crossroads of memories that narrate, with simplicity and beauty, the long history of Sicily.

10) Necropolis of Realmese

About three kilometers from Calascibetta lies the Necropolis of Realmese, a site of extraordinary fascination that takes us back to the prehistoric communities who once inhabited these lands. With its 288 rock-cut chamber tombs, the necropolis belongs to the so-called “Pantalica-type,” recalling in style the more famous Necropolis of Pantalica. Realmese reflects two distinct phases: the first dated to the 9th century BC, and a second around the 6th century BC, when many tombs were adapted and reused, showing a continuity of presence and cult. Archaeological investigations carried out between 1949 and 1950 by Luigi Bernabò Brea brought to light a rich funerary assemblage: decorated ceramics, bronze fibulae, small knives, rings, and earrings—precious evidence of daily life and burial practices of those ancient peoples. Today these finds are preserved at the Paolo Orsi Regional Archaeological Museum in Syracuse, while the necropolis itself, set in a striking landscape, continues to captivate not only archaeology enthusiasts but also anyone wishing to discover an authentic fragment of Sicily’s most ancient past.

11) Granfonte of Leonforte

The Granfonte is undoubtedly the symbolic monument of Leonforte. Commissioned in the 17th century by Prince Nicolò Placido Branciforti, founder of the town, it was built on the remains of an ancient Arab fountain known as the Fonte di Tavi. Since its construction, it has been the beating heart of the community: a meeting place, a site of social interaction, and, thanks to its twenty-four spouts, a public water source and trough. An imposing example of Baroque architecture, the fountain stands out for its monumentality and harmony: over 24 meters long and more than 8 meters high, it opens with 22 elegant round arches framing glimpses of the surrounding rural landscape. The façade is enriched with reliefs, masks, and cherubs, while bronze spouts continuously pour clear water into the large rectangular basin below. Three pediments decorated with bas-reliefs and connected by lateral scrolls complete the scenic design. Still today, the Granfonte has not lost its original function: it remains a privileged meeting place for the people of Leonforte, a space of social life and a precious testimony to their history.

12) Troina

Troina is a village that amazes from afar. Perched at over 1,000 meters above sea level among the Nebrodi woods, it is the highest municipality in the province of Enna and one of the most striking historic centers in Sicily. Its origins go back to prehistory, and it still preserves traces of the many civilizations that inhabited it: Greeks, Byzantines, Arabs, and Normans. It was with the arrival of Roger I that Troina experienced its peak of splendor: it became the first capital of the County of Sicily and the seat of the island’s first Norman cathedral. From then on, the village was a political and religious hub, hosting popes, emperors, and great noble families. Strolling through the historic center reveals this layering of eras: stone alleys, medieval views, stairways climbing to the Mother Church, and balconies overlooking spectacular landscapes. From its terraces, the gaze extends to Etna, the Nebrodi, and Lake Ancipa, in views that change with the seasons—from summer’s lush greens to winter’s snow-clad silence. Troina is also a place of living memory: during World War II, it was the scene of one of the fiercest battles of the Sicilian campaign, which devastated the town but earned it the Gold Medal of Civil Valor. Today, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy, it retains the charm of its millennia-old history while facing the challenges of modernity, from depopulation to economic hardship. Yet it remains an authentic place, where hospitality is warm, cuisine is tied to the land—grains, olives, almonds, and fine meats—and the pace of life seems slower. Troina is not just a place to visit: it is a village that tells stories, that invites discovery and lingering, winning over visitors with its silences, landscapes, and the strength of its traditions.

13) Lake Pozzillo

Lake Pozzillo lies in the heart of Sicily, near Regalbuto in the province of Enna, nestled between the last spurs of the Erei mountains and the Nebrodi. It is the island’s largest artificial basin, created in the 1950s by a reinforced concrete dam on the Salso River, a tributary of the Simeto. Its waters, also fed by streams from surrounding highlands, support a wide agricultural area and a hydroelectric plant, profoundly transforming the landscape and the local community’s life. Around the lake stretches a dense woodland dominated by eucalyptus trees, today of significant natural value. Its long, sinuous silvery surface recalls the shape of a tie, creating picturesque views enhanced by the distant snow-capped silhouette of Etna dominating the horizon. This is a place that combines silence and beauty, ideal for those seeking peace and nature but also for outdoor activities: sports facilities, picnic areas, and a rowing center that hosts regional and national competitions can be found here. This part of Sicily, which the Romans called the umbilicus Siciliae (the navel of Sicily), has always been a crossroads of peoples and civilizations: from the Siculi to the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spaniards, and Bourbons. Even Goethe, in the late 18th century, was enchanted by these landscapes. Today Lake Pozzillo, with its 150 million cubic meters of water and its 15 kilometers of length, represents not only an impressive feat of hydraulic engineering but also a symbol of the “province of lakes,” as the Ennese area is called for its artificial basins. A place where nature, history, and human ingenuity merge into a landscape of rare beauty.

14) Valguarnera Caropepe

Valguarnera Caropepe rises on a hill of the Erei mountains, overlooking the Dittaino valley. Today it appears as a lively town with a rural and artisanal soul that has gradually transformed into an elegant center enriched with noble palaces and fine vistas. Its origins are ancient: remains found in the surrounding area attest to settlements from protohistoric times. During Arab rule, it was known as Qasr el Habibi, “the hamlet of my beloved,” a name that over time became Carupipi, then Carrapipi, and finally Caropepe. In 1296, the hamlet was granted as a fief to Lamberto di Carupipi; later, after various vicissitudes, it passed to the Counts Valguarnera of Assoro. It was Count Giovanni Valguarnera who in 1549 obtained from Charles V the Licentia Populandi, giving birth to the new settlement organized with orthogonal street axes. A few decades later, in 1625, the fief was elevated to a principality by Philip IV. Today the life of the town revolves around the long central square and Piazza Canale, its beating heart. The religious heritage is rich and varied: the Cathedral of San Cristoforo stands out, with its Baroque façade and convex bell tower, and a three-aisled interior housing works by Vaccaro of Caltagirone and paintings by Barberis. Other notable churches include Sant’Antonio with its majolica-covered bell tower, Sant’Anna, San Liborio, San Francesco di Paola, and the Immacolata, which preserves a precious Byzantine icon of the Cretan school dating to the 15th century. Walking through its streets, among noble palaces and churches, Valguarnera Caropepe tells the story of its long past, suspended between ancient roots and modern spirit, while keeping intact its bond with tradition.

15) Mother Church of San Leone in Assoro

Assoro, an ancient village in the province of Enna, lies on Mount Stella, in the heart of the Erei mountains. Its origins reach back to remote history: it was founded by the Siculi, who named it after their prince, and in later centuries it saw the presence of Greeks, Romans, and Arabs. With the arrival of the Normans in 1061, it became an important fortified center, and in the following centuries it came under the rule of powerful noble families, including the Uberti and, from 1393, the Valguarnera. The village still preserves its medieval layout, with streets radiating from Piazza Umberto I, the town’s heart, dominated by a fountain and by a terrace which Cicero once called “the central balcony of Sicily” for its sweeping views of Etna, the Nebrodi, and the Madonie. Climbing to the upper part of town one finds the remains of the Castle, probably built in the 10th century: the ancient fortress, now part of a large urban park, preserves traces of the acropolis and tombs dating from the 2nd to the 5th centuries BC. Among the most precious monuments is the Mother Church of San Leone, commissioned by Constance of Hauteville in the 12th century as a royal chapel and elevated to Basilica in 1499. Declared a national monument in 1933, it impresses with its Gothic style tinged with Arab and Catalan influences, and its artistic treasures such as Gagini’s marble Conca, gilded wooden statues, and the marble tombs of the Valguarnera family. Also worth visiting are the 17th-century Church of Maria SS. degli Angeli, with its scenic painted Baroque staircase, and the former convent of Santa Chiara, today home to the Town Hall and Library. Walking through Assoro one breathes an authentic atmosphere, among noble palaces such as the refined Palazzo Valguarnera, and churches that recount the town’s history of faith and art. A place that combines beauty, culture, and spectacular views, offering visitors a journey through time into the very heart of Sicily.

16) Belvedere of Enna 

The Belvedere di Enna, known as the city's “salon,” is one of the most evocative squares in the historic center. Built in 1927, it overlooks a vast panorama that encompasses central Sicily, from the nearby medieval houses of Calascibetta to the distant peaks of the Nebrodi Mountains. The rectangular square is embellished by the Fontana del Ratto di Proserpina (Fountain of the Rape of Proserpina), with a bronze group depicting the famous myth, surrounded by hedges and centuries-old pine trees. Completing the elegance of the place is the marble handrail with columns and decorative vases and the nearby Grande Albergo Belvedere, a classic building of great charm. Today, the Belvedere is one of the city's main meeting points, as well as a natural terrace from which to admire spectacular views that make Enna truly unique in the heart of the island.

17) Aidone Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum of Aidone is now the reference point for learning about and promoting the ancient city of Morgantina, one of Sicily's most fascinating archaeological sites. The museum's rooms take visitors on a journey through the city's history, from the Archaic period to the Hellenistic period, offering a unique overview of daily life, religious practices, and the artistic wealth of the ancient world. In recent decades, the collection has been enriched with important masterpieces that have returned to Sicily after lengthy international negotiations, following the discovery that they had been stolen from the territory due to illegal excavations in the 1970s and 1980s. Their return has restored Morgantina to its authentic dimension, reconnecting it with the landscape and historical memory. Among the most important works are the extraordinary Acroliths of Demeter and Kore, dating back to the end of the 6th century BC: marble parts (heads, hands, and feet) of colossal statues whose bodies, now lost, were made of lightweight materials. These are unique artifacts, bearing witness to the religious devotion that once permeated the sanctuary dedicated to the chthonic deities. The famous statue of the Goddess, created at the end of the 5th century BC using the pseudo-acrolithic technique common in Sicilian sculpture, is also visually striking: the naked parts are carved in marble, while the drapery is modeled in limestone. The imposing and solemn figure has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Sicilian archaeology. Equally prestigious is the so-called Morgantina Treasure, a collection of refined Hellenistic silverware, probably used during public banquets held in the city's prytaneion. The objects, decorated with plant and figurative motifs, bear witness to the wealth and artistic taste of the local elite during the period of maximum prosperity. The tour ends with one of the museum's most evocative exhibits: the polychrome terracotta head of Hades from the 4th century BC, with traces of its original bright colors. The sculpture, probably part of a group depicting Hades and Kore, is a rare example of high-quality coroplastic art with profound expressive intensity. The museum, therefore, does not merely preserve artifacts, but tells a complex and fascinating story: that of an ancient city that was a crossroads of peoples, cultures, and trade, and which today continues to live on through its works, finally returned to their land of origin.

18) Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista di Leonforte

The Mother Church of Leonforte, dedicated to St. John the Baptist and affectionately known as “A Matrici,” stands opposite Palazzo Branciforti and is one of the most symbolic places in the city. Its construction began in 1611, at the behest of Princess Caterina Avviati, wife of Prince Nicolò Placido Branciforti, on the ruins of a small church already dedicated to the same saint. Inaugurated in 1659, it was only completed in 1740 thanks to the efforts of Ercole Branciforti, fourth prince of Leonforte. The façade, in classical Baroque style, is distinguished by its elegant decorations: three portals framed by columns with broken pediments, two balustrade balconies, and a square bell tower that houses the marble inscription with the dedication and date of construction. The interior, in neoclassical style, has a Latin cross plan with three naves marked by marble columns with Corinthian capitals. Refined white and gold stuccoes enrich the vaults and altars, among which the ancient altar of St. John the Baptist, inherited from the original church, stands out. Numerous works of art embellish the Matrice: from paintings and frescoes on the life of St. John to murals such as The Sacrifice of Isaac and The Last Supper. Particularly valuable is the pipe organ, built in 1740 by the famous Neapolitan master Donato del Piano, one of the greatest organ builders of the Baroque period. Another treasure is the processional fercolo, “A Vara,” made of gilded wood and richly decorated, dating back to the 19th century, which still carries the statue of the Madonna del Carmelo, patron saint of the city, in procession today. Inside the oratory and sacristy, there are other masterpieces, such as the wooden sculpture of the risen Christ attributed to Quattrocchi, and the painting The Expulsion from the Temple by Marco Antonio Raimondi, a pupil of Giulio Romano. The Mother Church is therefore not only the main sacred building in Leonforte, but a veritable treasure trove of art and history that bears witness to the devotion and prestige of the Branciforti family.

19) Archaeological Museum of Centuripe

The Archaeological Museum of Centuripe recounts the long history of the city, from its most ancient origins to its destruction in the Middle Ages. It was created by combining the historic municipal collection—already on display since the 1920s—with finds from excavations conducted since 1968 and enriched with more recent discoveries. The modern layout allows visitors not only to admire objects of great value, but also to understand their context thanks to reconstructions, models, and drawings that bring the original spaces and functions back to life. The rooms house finds covering a vast chronological span: from prehistoric remains to the Archaic, Hellenistic, and Roman periods, up to the Imperial period. Among the most significant sites documented are the Baths of Contrada Bagni, dating back to the 2nd-3rd century AD; the castle of Corradino, actually a large tower tomb later reused in medieval times; and the so-called Dogana, a funerary monument from the same period, transformed in modern times into a customs house. Other remains of public buildings can be found in Via Giulio Cesare, an area rich in civil and sacred remains, although not always easy to investigate due to the static problems of the terrain. Next to the archaeological section is the Cultural Anthropology Collection, housed in the former municipal slaughterhouse. Here, visitors can experience the daily life of rural Centuripe, with agricultural tools, objects related to wheat processing, and reconstructions of ancient artisan workshops. A stone oven used by the neighborhood after the war and a Sicilian cart enrich the exhibition, creating an ideal bridge between the city's millennial history and more recent popular traditions. The museum does not merely preserve artifacts, but constructs a true narrative: each object becomes a piece of a mosaic that restores the identity of Centuripe, intertwining archaeology, collective memory, and material culture.

20) Agira

Agira is one of the oldest villages in Sicily, a place whose roots date back to distant times, as far back as 30,000 years ago, when the island was still connected to the Italian peninsula. Legends tell of Cyclops and Laestrygonian giants who populated these lands, while history tells us of the Sicans, who around the second millennium BC inhabited the natural and artificial caves that are still visible today. One of their leaders, Agiride, is said to have given the city its name. Over the centuries, Agira was home to Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, and Normans, becoming a crossroads of peoples and cultures. Diodorus Siculus, one of the most important historians of antiquity, was born in its streets, while its religious memory is linked to the figure of St. Philip of Agira, evangelist and miracle worker, who is still a highly venerated patron saint today. The Royal Abbey Church of St. Philip is dedicated to him and houses precious works of art such as the wooden crucifix by Friar Umile da Petralia. The village boasts a rich architectural and spiritual heritage: from the Church of Santissimo Salvatore with its ancient Jewish Aron to the district of San Pietro, which retains its Arab, Byzantine, and medieval atmosphere, to the noble palaces that have hosted kings, abbots, and even Garibaldi. Among them all, however, the Castle of Agira stands out, perched at over 800 meters on Mount Teja: one of the highest fortresses in Sicily, once a defensive outpost and now a splendid panoramic terrace from which the gaze embraces the valleys and the majestic Etna. Tradition is revived every year in the celebrations dedicated to San Filippo, in the evocative cultural events and in the living nativity scene. And for those who love authentic flavors, the Sagra della Cassatella, a typical Agira dessert that reflects the sweetness of this land, is not to be missed. Agira is easily accessible from Catania airport, just over 50 kilometers away, or by car via the A19 motorway. Its location also makes it perfect for excursions in the surrounding area, from the historic center of Catania to the Etna Park, offering visitors a complete experience of history, nature, and traditions.

21) Papardura Sanctuary

No longer as isolated as it once was, the Papardura Sanctuary retains its timeless atmosphere, nestled in the rocky ridge overlooking the Rizzuto valley, a landscape dotted with springs, vegetable gardens, and olive groves. Here, the boundary between legend and history seems to dissolve: it is said that as early as the middle of the first millennium, farmers, in the places where they worked, kept their faith in a cave, carving the image of the Crucifix between the weeping Marys directly into the rock, dating back to at least the 7th century. Over the centuries, a masonry church was built next to the cave on a bridge, incorporating the natural cavity and transforming it into the apse. The exterior façade is simple, almost austere, but upon entering, one discovers a Baroque heart: polychrome stuccoes, a wooden coffered ceiling, and a red and gold case that houses the historic painted stone. On the walls, the twelve Apostles observe silently, while the only sound that seems to penetrate the sanctuary is the wind rising from the valley. Stepping out onto the churchyard, the view opens up onto valleys and ridges, and just below the church are the old lava stone wash houses, where until the 1950s women came to wash clothes, singing traditional laments. The sanctuary experiences moments of intense devotion, especially on Fridays in March, with the pilgrimage known as “'u viaggiu,” and during the September festival dedicated to the Crucifix. This celebration still retains the ancient flavor of agricultural communities: mules decked out in rich, colorful harnesses walk through the alleys, and families gather to prepare “cuddureddi,” traditional sweets offered on the day of the festival. The Sanctuary of Papardura is a place of faith and memory that deserves to be discovered with the same attention given to more famous monuments, because it embodies the authentic heart of Sicilian popular spirituality.