CaltanissettaNiscemi.
Ruins of the ancient city of Nixenum have been found
locally. The modern town was founded in 1626 by
Giuseppe Branciforte, who obtained the title of
Prince of Niscemi, and seriously damaged by the
earthquake in 1693, which devasted much of E Sicily,
Niscerni was rebuilt on a regular, orderly basis.
The churches of Niscemi were all built in the 18th
c.
The Matrice, Santa Maria dell’Odigitria,
stands in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele III, as also
the Chiesa dell'Addolorata, with its convex fayade
and unusual octagonal plan attributed to the Val
di Noto architect Rosario Gagliardi. Another rarity
is the elliptical plan ofthe 18th c. Chiesa della
Madonna del Bosco in Via Salvatore Noto; the Convento
and Chiesa dei Padri Riformati are not far away.
