In the south of Sicily, Caltanisetta, is famous for the religious events that take place during the Holy week. But this city also attracts all year round thanks to the beauty of its historic buildings, witnessing its rich past.
It is said that the Arabs, when they conquered the village in the Middle Ages gave it the name qal'at an-nisa which means the women's castle, from which comes the current name of Caltanisetta. You can still see on a hill near the city the Castle of Pietrarossa, vestige of the ancient Arab village.
In addition to the castle, there are numerous buildings of historical interest, among them we can mention the Palazzo Moncada, built in the first half of the 17th century by Count Guglielmo Moncada and had to be one of the most important mansions in Sicily, as evidenced by the majesty of the building and the precious anthropomorphic and zoomorphic friezes of the balconies.
In 1915, Princess Maria Giovanna of Beauffremont, who bought it, had a large hall with Art Nouveau gallery built, which was used for the representation of theatrical performances.
He still serves this role, under the name of Cineteatro Beauffremont. Not to be missed even the Duomo. The Cathedral of Santa Maria La Nova was built between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, according to the characteristics of the Baroque style. Its interior features frescoes created by Guglielmo Borremans in the first half of the eighteenth century.
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