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Latest update: 23 April 2025
Most tourists skip right past Enna. Honestly, I’m fine with that because it means I get to have this Sicilian mountain village almost all by myself. But you should consider going there too: the mountain town offers a welcome change from the typical sun-sea-beach vacation. So go ahead and book a night in Enna, and I’ll gladly tell you what you can do there.
Sicily is grande
Sicily is much bigger than I thought. I figured I could see the whole island in two weeks, but nope. I have to make choices and also build in a bit of rest here and there (which I completely failed at). That’s why I want to cut straight from my arrival point in Trapani to Taormina and then drive back to Trapani via the south side. But the distance between Trapani and Taormina turns out to be quite long. So I make a stop in Enna. On a Sunday, not ideal because a lot of places are closed, but I get to experience a procession, visit a cemetery, and enjoy spectacular views. Weird combination? Maybe. But I love it.
The impregnable city of Enna
Enna is situated in the interior of Sicily. It’s the capital of the province with the same name, and its highest point, the Castello di Lombardia, sits at 3,182 feet (970 meters). As you drive up, you’ll immediately see how beautifully this city is perched on the rocks. High up, surrounded by greenery and hills. The Romans referred to Enna as the “impregnable city.” That’s thanks to its location and robust defensive structures.
Torre Ottagonale
The Torre Ottagonale (Octagonal Tower) was once part of these defensive structures and remains well-preserved. It’s located a bit outside the center in a small city park. Admission is €3 ($3.30) (in 2024), and you can climb the tower. There are some information boards in the different rooms. You have a beautiful view of Enna and its surroundings from the top of the tower. I also saw a massive rain shower coming from here, so we quickly left to find shelter somewhere.
Follow Via Roma for the sights
Enna is divided into Enna Alta, the historic part, and Enna Bassa, the newer section. All the important sights are in Enna Alta, which is also the most atmospheric area. Follow Via Roma Street, and you’ll naturally come across all the attractions. Lots of churches, of course: Chiesa San Marco (Google Maps location), Chiesa di Giuseppe (Google Maps location), and the Duomo of Enna (Google Maps location).
At the end of Via Roma, you’ll also find the Castello di Lombardia (Google Maps location) and Rocca di Cerere (Google Maps location). Unfortunately, both are closed for maintenance. The Castello is an ancient castle, and the Rocca di Cerere once housed the temple of Demeter, the goddess of harvest.
Although the two main attractions are inaccessible to me, the views make it a great visit. The village of Calascibetta has something magical about it. Try to take a moment to see it around sunset or sunrise.
Procession through the streets
My sightseeing tour of Enna threatens to get a bit boring now that everything is closed. But after sunset, the little town begins to come alive. We don’t quite understand why yet, but later it turns out there’s a procession. Unfortunately, I didn’t discover the reason, but watching is fun anyway. It’s all very friendly and relaxed, so I can leisurely watch the flag bearers and two procession platforms. One is carried by young children, followed by the older boys. They walk up and down the entire Via Roma. When they come back, the procession platform seems to weigh eight times as much, judging by the tired faces of the carriers.
The cemetery of Enna
Listing a cemetery as an attraction might sound a bit odd, but it’s actually a piece of Sicilian culture. The graveyard looks nothing like the ones we have in the Netherlands. It’s all grand and extravagant. The Cimitero Comunale of Enna is a huge cemetery with tombs for entire families, each bigger and more beautiful than the other.
If you want to view the cemetery from a distance, you can drive to a residential area, here. Then you’ll see the tombs beautifully situated on the hill.
Foodie tips in Enna
As mentioned, I was in Enna on a Sunday, and many places were closed. I would have loved to go to Tommy’s Wine (Google Maps location) for dinner, so maybe you can try that. Instead, I gathered my dinner from different stops. Recommendations include an arancini at Pavone (Google Maps location)—those are typical Italian risotto balls (or should I say giant ball) for €2 ($2.20). They are a good snack.
And the aperitivo at Bar dell’Angelo (Google Maps location) is pretty extensive. In the morning, you can also have a good cappuccino there. Add a cornetto pastry. Done and ready for a new day in Sicily!
Accommodation in Enna
I had actually reserved WelcHome in Enna (this one), but there’s no water in the apartment, so the owner moved us to Bianko Ecochique (this one). Parking in the designated square is a nightmare, but the condo definitely isn’t. It looks new, super clean, and ultra-modern. I had chosen WelcHome for the view, which I miss here, but I’m pleased with this chic, beige apartment.
More Sicily travel inspiration
Useful links for your Sicily trip
- Accommodation. Always handy is Booking.com. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. Book the best tours and activities at GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. Book “free” walking tours at Freetour or GuruWalk , and for bike tours, Baja Bikes.
- Attractions and museums. For 5% off museums and attractions, use discount code KIMOPREIS22 at Tiqets.
- Car rental. Compare prices and insurance coverage at DiscoverCars and Rentalcars.com.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Definitely Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Guide books. I love the practical guides by Lonely Planet, for sale at Bol.com and Amazon.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Start your search at Expedia or CheapOair.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Yoga retreat. Or join a yoga retreat in Sicily.
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