Ancient Paths and Historical Itineraries of Sicily: VIII Via Alesa – Enna (Alesa – Agira section) 
Phase B: Rev 1.0 (edited by Ignazio Caloggero) 

Interactive map updated in real time. For a global view of all the historical itineraries of Sicily, for the presentation of the project, the "zoomable" historical maps taken as reference and the relative methodological notes, please refer to the project page: Ancient paths and historical itineraries of Sicily. For a view of all the routes in one web page, see: Ancient Paths and Historical Itineraries of Sicily: All the routes live.

The map shows the main "stations" and the archaeological sites encountered along the way. Under the map further details and technical notes. 

Description

The route reported by Biagio Pace (3.481) who cites the Ravenna Geographer (7) and the Guidone (9) 

• Erbita (Herbita) (San Stefano di Camastra) 
• Melistrata – Mitistrata (Mistretta)
• Prachera
• Agurium (Agira) 

Biagio Pace, pointing out also the indicated by Schmettau (C4-C7) believes the departure from Alesa (which he places at Castel di Tusa) and not from S. Stefano di Camastra to be more likely, at the moment we are taking into consideration the hypothesis of Pace.  

Summary of the path 

• Section VIIIA (Castel di Tusa – Mistretta)
• Section VIIIB (Mistretta – Agira) 
• Section VIIIC (Agira – Enna) 

Section VIIIA (Castel di Tusa – Mistretta)

• VIIIA.1: Castel di Tusa (Marina di Tusa) (3.481) (C2) (C26) (C27 – Torremuzza) (13.328)
• VIIIA.1: S. Maria delle Palate (Halaesa Arconidea) (3.481) (C26)
• VIIIA.3: Riggieri Bridge (CAMS)
• VIIIA.4: Contrada Militello (CAMS)
• VIIIA.5: Pettineus (CAMS) (C2)
• VIIIA.6: Contrada Pietramola (CAMS)
• VIIIA.7: Mistretta (Melistrata) (Amistratos?) (3.481) (C7) (C2) (C27) (13.328)

Section VIIIB (Mistretta – Agira) 

• VIIIB.1: Nicosia (3.481) (C7) (C27) (13.328)
• VIIIB.2: Contrada d'Oro (CAMS)
• VIIIB.3: Contrada Favara (CAMS)
• VIIIB.4: Agira (3.481) (C7) (13.328)

Section VIIIC (Agira – Enna) 

• From Agira to Enna it should coincide with the section of via VII) Catania - Enna - Termini Imerese (3.481) (section that passes through Nissoria and Leonforte)

Insights

Bibliography and Reference Cartography.

(1) (3) (7) (9) (13) (99) (CAMS) (C4) C7) (C27) 

• [1] Giovanni Uggeri: The formation of the Roman road system in Sicily 
• [3] Biagio Pace: Art and Civilization of Ancient Sicily Vol. 1 pag. 453-488
• [7] “Geography of Guidone IX century
• [9] "Cosmography" of the anonymous Ravenna VIII century
• G. Uggeri:  Itineraries and roads, routes, ports and ports of call of late ancient Sicilyin  Proceedings IX Ancient Sicily Congress (Palermo 1997), "Kokalos" 43-44 (1997-1998), Rome 2000, pp. 299-364.
• [99] Ignazio Caloggero: The Project Ancient Paths and Historical Itineraries of Sicily
• CAMS: Multimedia Archaeological Map of Sicily - Link: https://www.lasiciliainrete.it/archivio-patrimonio-archeologico-di-sicilia/
• C4: Nova et accurate Siciliae Regionum, Urbium, Castellorum, Pagorum Montium, Sylvarum, Planitierum, Viarum Situum ac Singularium quorumque locorum et rerum ad Geographiam Partinentium Descriptio Universalis - 1721 author Schmettau, Samuel von
• C7: Sicily. Publisher: Robert Laurie & James Whittle (1799) (always referable to the Schmettau paper)
• C27: Comparative Map of Modern Sicily (1859)

For the bibliography and general cartography see the page: Methodological Notes and Bibliography 

Technical and methodological note 

The Multimedia Map of the Ancient Historical Paths is created in sub-phases (not necessarily sequential):

• Phase A (Basic Path): in the first sub-phase the paths are identified in the form of a first draft divided into segments and sections (taking into account the bibliography, the historical maps analyzed and the Multimedia Archaeological Map of Sicily (CAMS) and only partially the paths on the ground). The basic route is the starting point proposed to the scientific community, preparatory to the subsequent phase of detailed analysis of the individual segments that make up the entire identified path
• Phase B (Advanced Path): in the second phase, an incremental refinement process will begin by adapting, as faithfully as possible, the individual components that make up the route to the historical routes and to the tracks on the ground and where the ancient traces have been lost, adapt them to the current routes that are closest to the ancient paths (keeping track of the historical paths, where identified). The incremental refinement process will also take into account historical roads, natural roads and further studies and contributions from the scientific community and scholars in the sector.
• Phase C (Subdivision of the paths): When fully operational, the project provides for the drafting of two paths that may diverge in some points: a path as faithful as possible to the ancient path regardless of its current practicability and another that could form the basis for proposing itineraries that take into account the actual practicability and the possibility of enjoying the historical, artistic and naturalistic beauties close to the historical route. 

Note: In cases where the ancient route is no longer identifiable or has been completely replaced by high-speed roads, or obstructed by industrial plants or other types of impediment, an attempt has been made to identify a stretch that in some way is closest to the characteristics of a naturalistic path or in any case a substitute for the fast-flowing path. In some cases, moreover, in case of doubt between two possible routes, the route that allows you to pass in the immediate vicinity of landscapes or cultural heritage considered interesting from a tourist-cultural point of view has been taken into consideration.