Piazza Armerina

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Piazza Armerina is an Italian comune in the province of Enna of the autonomous island region of Sicily.

History

The city of Piazza (as it was called before 1862) began during the Norman domination in Sicily (11th century), but the area was inhabited since prehistorical times. The city was flourshing also during Roman times, as showed by the notable examples of the patrician Villa Romana del Casale.

Main sights

The town is mainly famous for its Roman mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale.

The medieval appearance of the city is manifest in some of its houses, which show Norman or Gothic architecture. The main landmarks include:

• The massive Cathedral, built in the 17th-18th century over a pre-existing church and which the current bell tower belongs to in the lower part, while th eupper part is from 1578. Also original are the Catalan-Gothic style windows on the left side. The dome dates from 1768. The façade has a notable portal with spiral columns by Leonardo De Luca. The interior, with a single, large nave, houses the Madonna della Vittoria (Madonna of the Victory), a Byzantine icon traditionally associated to the banner donated by the Pope to Roger I of Sicily during the council of Melfi, as well an unusual two-sided Crucifix by unknown. The Diocesan Museum has reliquiaries, articles of silverware, monstrances and other art works. Nearby is the Palazzo Trigona, from the name of the family who commissioned the church.
• The Church of Fundrò (1613)
• The massive Aragonese Castle (1392-96). It is square in shape, with square towers.
• The Baroque church of St. Roch, with a carved tufa portal, and the nearby Palazzo di Città, carachterized by a fresco ceiling.
• The church of San Giovanni Evangelista (14th century) has an entirely frescoed interior by Guglielmo Borremans and assistents.
• The church of St. Martin of Tours (founded in 1163)
• The Hermitage of St. Andrew (12th century)
• The church of Santa Maria del Gesù (16th century), currently abandoned.

Outside the city is the ancient Church of the Priorato di Sant'Andrea (1096), founded by Count Simon of Butera, a nephew of Roger I.

Culture

Piazza Armerina is the seat of the famous Palio dei Normanni, a re-enactment in costume of th eentrance of Count Roger I in the city. It takes place on 14-August 15.

Language

Piazza Armerina is one of the so-called "Lombardic" communes of Sicily, as its dialect differes notably from that of the neighbouring region. This is due to the destruction of the old Piazza by king William I of Sicily, and the subsequent repopulation by William II (according to other scholars, to the slightly later age of Frederick II) with colonists coming from "Lombard" regions of northern Italy, especially from Monferrato and Piacenza.

References

• Sicily and Its Islands, Ugo La Rosa Editore, 1993.

External links

• [Villa Romana del Casale Web Site]

References