Tourism in Riesi

Riesi rises at about 45 km. far from Caltanissetta, on the slopes of Mount Santa Veronica, in the valley crossed by the river Salso, a waterway with perennial flood which crosses about all the Sicily from north to south and then it flows into the of Sicily Sea.

The name probably derives from Medieval Latin rieses, that is untilled grounds and such they were in the XIII century when the barony of Riesi became a feud of the noble and powerful Ventimiglia family.

The village was founded in 1647 by the baron Pietro Altariva by licentia populandi got in 1515.

Photo © Wikipedia

The inhabited centre houses the beautiful Cathedral Church, dedicated to Our Lady of the Chain.

The temple was built in the XVIII century and recently has undergone important and indispensable works of repair.

The front, characterized by a beautiful portal, doesn’t show affected ornaments, on the contrary the excessive simplicity of shapes gives elegance to the whole structure.

The notable noble XVIIIth-century coat-of-arms of Don Bartolomeo Moncajo is in contrast with the minimal taste.

It is on the front of the church and creates a suggestive visual effect according to the original plan.

The inside is full of precious decorations, magnificent stuccoes which recall Renaissance style and of artistical fresco paintings, made of colours diluted in the water, which draw on the walls splendid and original representations.