Perched north of town at a height of nearly 1000m, the ruins of Mistretta's 11th-century Norman castle make an atmospheric spot to survey the old town's huddle of stone houses and the surrounding patchwork of fields and rolling hills. First mentioned in historical accounts dating to 1083, the castle nowadays is a crumbling shell of its former self, but the views are lovely, and the evocative approach through Mistretta's narrow stone streets is reason enough to make the climb.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
19.93 MILES
Cefalù's cathedral is one of the jewels in Sicily's Arab-Norman crown, only equalled in magnificence by the Cattedrale di Monreale and Palermo's Cappella…
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20.24 MILES
Cefalù's crescent-shaped beach is one of the most popular along the whole Sicilian coast. In summer it is packed, so be sure to arrive early to get a good…
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26.86 MILES
Turquoise waters lap this gorgeous beach to the east of the point at Capo d'Orlando. Framed by rocky outcrops, with a mix of sand and pebbles and gorgeous…
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25.56 MILES
The Duomo is the most impressive of the historic buildings that line Via Roma, Enna's showpiece street. Built over 200 years after the original Gothic…
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14.95 MILES
Originally known as the Castello del Buon Aere (Castle of Good Air), the enormous castle that soars above Castelbuono's golden patchwork of houses gave…
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20.04 MILES
This small, privately owned museum showcases a collection amassed by parliamentarian, archaeologist and natural-history buff, Baron Mandralisca (1809–64)…
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23.22 MILES
This unique little museum displays photographs and memorabilia documenting the Targa Florio, the world's oldest sports-car racing event. Established by…
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25.52 MILES
One of Sicily's most formidable castles guards Enna's highest point, at the easternmost edge of the historic centre. The original castle was built by the…
Nearby Tyrrhenian Coast attractions
7.03 MILES
Perched on a hillside 4km south of Castel di Tusa, and accessed through a small olive grove, the scant remnants of this 5th-century-BC Greek city command…
2. Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
12.83 MILES
A reconstruction of a 13th-century church destroyed by a landslide in 1757, the current Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore made its debut in 1767…
12.89 MILES
Nicosia's cathedral dates back to 1340. It's built in the Gothic style and is capped by a beautiful, painted wooden ceiling. The interior includes a…
14.95 MILES
Originally known as the Castello del Buon Aere (Castle of Good Air), the enormous castle that soars above Castelbuono's golden patchwork of houses gave…
5. Museo Naturalistico Francesco Minà Palumbo
15.04 MILES
Named after the naturalist Francesco Minà Palumbo (1814–99), this unassuming museum is housed in the former convent of Santa Venera. Its wide-ranging…
6. Chiesa Santi Pietro e Paolo
16.72 MILES
The town's cathedral, located on Piazza del Duomo, off Piazza dei Quattro Cannoli, was consecrated in 1497 and has an elegant 18th-century portico and a…
7. Chiesa di Santa Maria di Loreto
16.76 MILES
The most beautiful of Petralia Soprana's many churches is the 18th-century Chiesa di Santa Maria di Loreto, at the end of Via Loreto, off the main square,…
8. Chiesa della Santissima Trinità alla Badia
17 MILES
Just off the road to Petralia Soprana, this church, originally built as part of a 16th-century Dominican convent, boasts a handsome marble altarpiece…