Caltanissetta

Caltanissetta, capital of the province of Caltanissetta, central Sicily, Italy. The city is located on a branch rail line that connects it with the Italian coastal cities of Palermo, Catania, and Agrigento. Caltanissetta is 94 km (58 mi) south-east of Palermo. The city became prominent under Norman rule in the 11th century, but there are few medieval remains. It prospered under Spanish rule in the 16th and 17th centuries. The castle of Pietrarossa has Greek and Arabic remains, and the cathedral and the Palazzo Moncada are in the Baroque style. During World War II, Caltanissetta was the scene of heavy fighting. The city is now a prominent agricultural market centre. Population (1991) 62,853.