History News

City (Town of 415,94 km2 with 61.319 inhabitants, "nisseni" called) of Sicily, main town of the homonymous province, placed at 568 meters upon the sea level. on a rise which culminates to North in the S Giuliano mountain and that dominates from right the valley of the Salso river.Caltanissetta is a big commercial and mineral centre. The commerce essentially bases himself on the agricultural products ( cereals, he yields, I oil, citrus, wine ), which alimentary transformation industries stimulate. They do not lack mechanical industries too.

The commerce concerns also the mineral extraction of the sulphur, however for the decline of the extractive industry, is crossing a phase of economic standstill.
In development instead is the holiday, for the beautiful hilly position of the Centre.

The origin of Caltanissetta is ancient, but unspecified. Maybe it is of "sicula" origin, and how all the territory of this Sicilian area underwent the influence in Gela and Agrigento: of recent remains of prehistoric cabins were found in fact, as well as features of Greek walls and tracks of foundations of a pre-existent one lived.

It is possible to reach the ruins of Gebel-Habib, on the Monte Gibil Gabel, 615 meters, where was located an agglomerate of houses, probably the ancient Nisa or Nissa, which the today's denomination of Caltanissetta is derived.

Was subject to the Saraceni, which interpreted the name, if it is true that in Arabic Caltanissetta means "women's fortress" with a refer to its hilly position. To Arabics, Aragonesi followed Normans, Svevi and how many rules concerned Sicily, leaving a tangible sign in their buildings and works of art.

The Centre began to have importance only in last century for the intensive exploitation of the sulphur mines.