{"id":68243,"date":"2015-09-14T11:52:52","date_gmt":"2015-09-14T10:52:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/?p=68243"},"modified":"2026-10-14T08:31:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T07:31:38","slug":"nicosia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/en\/nicosia","title":{"rendered":"Nicosia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nicosia<\/strong> is a pretty little town often wrongly overlooked by travellers, situated at the foot of the Nebrodi Mountains<\/a> at over 700 metres of altitude in a valley in the province of Enna, where nearly 12,500 inhabitants live.
It preserves a heritage inherited from the Normans and the Aragonese, but also with a Byzantine and Lombard (Gallo-Italic) substratum, visible in the toponymy, religious architecture and local culture.<\/p>\n

Historical elements<\/h2>\n

The town of Nicosia developed in the Byzantine era, when it took a name derived from Saint Nicholas, “Nikousia”. Subsequently, the Arabs settled there, followed by the Normans and the Swabians.
35 kilometres to the east lies Troina, the first castle of which the Normans of Count Roger took possession around 1061 during their conquest of Sicily, a provisional capital and one of the most important fortified strongholds under Norman rule in the 11th-12th centuries.<\/p>\n

\"Nicosia<\/a>At that time, the withdrawal of the Saracens and the Norman advance were accompanied by significant immigration of Lombard peoples. The local dialect, of the Gallo-Italic type, is a legacy of that era. <\/p>\n

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Nicosia is one of the Sicilian centres known as “Lombard” (along with Piazza Armerina, Aidone, Sperlinga, etc.) where a Gallo-Italic dialect survives, originating from settlers who came from Piedmont and Liguria in the 11th-12th centuries. This linguistic phenomenon is studied by linguists as a unique case in Sicily. 
\u2192 Read the paragraph “Lombards of Sicily<\/a>“<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

From the Middle Ages onwards the town was flourishing and one of the most important in the Val Demone of Sicily, elevated to the status of a crown city by Frederick II Hohenstaufen, dependent directly on the crown.
It was still very rich in the 18th century, with more than 90 churches, chapels and convents, many of which have disappeared or were transformed.
Nicosia was the seat of an autonomous diocese from 1817 to 1986, before being integrated into the archdiocese of Messina.<\/p>\n

Visiting Nicosia: what to see<\/h2>\n

From its rich past Nicosia has preserved a substantial heritage, with a town centre made up of medieval alleyways at the foot of the old castle, occupying several successive terraces around the districts of Santa Maria Maggiore and San Nicol\u00f2, the two main ones in the town, which correspond to a historic urban division.<\/p>\n

San Nicol\u00f2 Cathedral<\/h3>\n
\"Campanaria<\/a>

Campanaria Tower, San Nicolo Cathedral<\/p><\/div>\n

The main place of worship is San Nicol\u00f2 Cathedral<\/strong>, in the Gothic style, built in 1340 and remodelled in the 15th-17th centuries. It preserves a rare wooden ceiling dating from the 15th century decorated with frescoes, a late Gothic portal, and marble sculptures by Antonelo Gagini, a major figure of the Sicilian Renaissance, such as a beautiful altarpiece or a baptismal font.
It also preserves a precious liturgical treasure comprising pieces of goldsmithing from the 17th-18th centuries.<\/p>\n

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore<\/h3>\n

At the foot of the castle, the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore<\/strong> is of medieval origin, remodelled in the 15th-16th centuries, presenting in particular a Catalan Gothic portal from the late 15th century.
It preserves beautiful sculpted marbles with a cycle on the life of the Virgin executed by Antonello Gagini in the 16th century, an altarpiece structured in several panels.
The massive bell tower, visible from the valley, bears witness to the defensive and symbolic role of religious buildings in the medieval urban organisation.<\/p>\n

Remains of the medieval fortifications<\/h3>\n
\"Norman<\/a>

Norman castle enclosure<\/p><\/div>\n

On the rock overlooking the town are the remains of the Norman castle, essentially vestiges of walls, probably from the 11th century with Swabian alterations. Cisterns cut into the rock and defensive structures are still visible.<\/p>\n

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