Attractions and Places To See around Riesi - Top 18

Romanesque-Norman castle from the 12th century AD It is normally closed, but to the left of the entrance gate, a fence allows access.

Pietraperzia, in Sicily, is a municipality known for its rich history and significant monuments. Once inhabited by the Sicani and then by the Siculi, it offers evidence of the Norman era such as the Norman Castle, built by the Barresi family. Other places of interest include the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, which houses sarcophagi made by Antonello Gagini, and the former Dominican convent, now used as municipal offices.

This church, which is dedicated to the Holy Cross (Latin “Santa Croce”), draws its patronage from the cross on which Jesus Christ died. The veneration of the Holy Cross goes back to a large extent to Saint Helena, who was the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great (who recognized Christianity as a religion after his victory at the “Milvian Bridge” in front of Rome and in the year 312 for a long time the persecution ended with the “tolerance edict” of Milan). In the early fourth century she undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Israel / Palestine) and from there brought numerous relics with her to Europe, including the "True Cross" on which Jesus Christ was crucified. Helena is therefore often depicted with a cross as an attribute. The church celebrates the festival of the discovery, public presentation and veneration of the Holy Cross – called “Exaltation of the Cross” – on September 14th.

Church of Maria Santissima delle Grazie Isolated and outside the town of Mazzarino, the small church dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie rises to the south, the foundation of which dates back to the Norman age and, according to local literature, must have been in the shape of a Greek cross. The current longitudinal layout of the church dates back to the restoration works of the 17th century. It has a rectangular hall, divided by an arch about two thirds of the length, starting from the entrance and ending with a semicircular apse; from here you enter the only annexed room, used as a sacristy. floor plan Longitudinal planimetric layout with a single rectangular nave, concluded by a semicircular apse. Starting from the entrance, at about two thirds, the length of the hall is divided by an arch. In the first part, on the walls, there are two side entrances, one on each side. A single window, placed on the façade above the entrance, illuminates the interior of the nave. From the presbytery, raised with a step, you enter a room, used as a sacristy, with an essential toilet and with independent access to the outside of the church. covers The roof of the church has two pitches, made with wooden structures, hidden by the barrel vault and surmounted by Sicilian coppi tiles. The sacristy compartment has a single pitch. main prospectus The simple facade is barely characterized by the essential frame of the triangular tympanum, surmounted in the center by a modest bell loggia. The masonry is made with exposed stone. Only the entrance is framed by jambs and a round arch made with squared stone ashlars. In the centre, above the door, a frameless window opens, the only source of natural light for the interior of the classroom. secondary prospectuses The wall facings are made with exposed stone. During the last restoration works, the two original side entrances were restored. On the right side is the only and small annexed room. interior The flooring is made with terracotta tiles. The walls are plastered and painted. The vault has no decoration and is set up without any characterization that distinguishes it from the wall facing. Source: beweb.chiesacattolica.it

The church of the SS.mo Crocifisso dell'Olmo is open to the public in the month of May for the celebrations in honor of the co-patron of the city, for the funerals of the confreres and during the Christmas period, on the occasion of setting up the crib.

The current church of the Santissimo Crocifisso dell'Olmo dates back to 1756. The same site knew a primitive structure dedicated to the Madonna dell'Itria and dating back to the X-XI century. Over the centuries the church acquired other names: - Our Lady of Grace - Crucifix of the Graces; - Olmo Crucifix. From the news received by the historian Di Giorgio Ingala, the very first building (in Norman style, with pointed arches and historiated vaults) was commissioned by Count Ruggero, to ensure that the Christian faith would be reborn, a faith that had been hindered by the domination of the Arabs . Instead, the current temple was commissioned in the second half of the 1700s by the Messina noble Filippo Bivona, who had escaped the plague and had developed deep devotion to the Crucifix in Mazarin. It was the marquis who wanted the construction of the bell tower and the furnishings (as can be seen from the epigraph placed on the entrance door of the church). The church consists of three naves, the main altar houses the wooden crucifix, while in the two lateral naves there are altars dominated by paintings of skilled manufactures. In the right aisle are depicted: - The Magdalene; -Our Lady of Itria; -The Holy Family. While the left aisle is occupied by canvases representing: -Saint Michael the Archangel; -Our Lady of Monserrato; -Our Lady of Grace. In the basement there are still the remains of the first edition of the church, and like most of the churches of the time, the strainers are arranged in the single nave, and a room adjacent to the nave used as an ossuary. Source: Signoredellolmo.it

The cathedral or madrice of Santa Maria della Neve is the mother church of Mazzarino, in the province of Caltanissetta, belonging to the diocese of Piazza Armerina, and is located in the historic center, along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, at the widening overlooking the square Angelo Monterosso. The building, designed by the architect Angelo Italia, is a typical example of Sicilian late Baroque from the period following the reconstruction following the 1693 Val di Noto earthquake. Wanted by Prince Carlo Maria Carafa, for whom, in his will, he left the conspicuous sum of 1000 scudi for the construction. The cathedral was built in the same place where the ancient church dedicated to the Madonna della Neve stood, which collapsed due to the earthquake of 11 January 1693. The construction works began in 1694 and were interrupted in 1736, to be resumed for about a century. later, as reported by the historian Pietro di Giorgio Ingala in his research and historical considerations on the ancient city of Mazarin. The original design of the cathedral was commissioned to the Jesuit architect Angelo Italia da Licata, who at that time moved to Mazzarino to direct the construction of the palace of Count Adonnino. The original designs, however, have been lost. The original project, according to Ingala, included a structure with a single nave with a "barrel" vault and large side altars. A dome should have been erected in the center of the cross and two bell towers on both sides. The constructive and financial difficulties, due to the premature death of the financier of the works, Prince Carlo Maria Carafa, led to a remodeling of the initial project and, after a stoppage of about a century, thanks to the commitment of the sac. Andrea Bartolotta, and the contribution of the people, the construction was completed, with the modification of the plant from one to three naves and lowering of the vault. The architects and master builders who followed the completion of the works were the Mazzarinesi Giuseppe Ferrara and Matteo Buccola. The last masonry works were carried out in 1844 by the will of the sac. Salvatore Faraci, and looked at the marble floor and the stuccoes of the vaults. Source Wikipedia

For those wishing to visit it; unfortunately I often see the gate closed, better call some information office. Or secondary entrance (piece of network missing) next to the gate open 24h / 24 😉