The city ofPiazza developed during the Norman domination in Sicily, when Lombards settled the central and eastern part of Sicily. But the area had been inhabited since prehistoric times. The city flourished during Roman times, as shown by the large mosaics at the patrician Villa Romana del Casale. Remains, artifacts of old settlements and a necropolis from the 8th century BC were found in the territory of the comune. Boris Giuliano was born in Piazza Armerina.
Main sights
The town is famous chiefly for its monumental Roman villa with its exceptional mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale, about to the southwest. It also has a range of significant architecture dating from medieval through the 18th century. The medieval history of the city is manifest in some of its houses, which show Norman or Gothic architecture. The main landmarks include a range of architectural styles:
The massive Baroque cathedral, built on the 15th-century foundations of a former church, from which the bell tower was taken and reused. Also original to the 15th-century church 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. The Byzantine icon is traditionally associated with the banner donated by the Pope to Roger I of Sicily during the Council of Melfi. The cathedral has an unusual two-sided crucifix by an unknown artist. The Diocesan Museum holds reliquaries, articles of silverware, monstrances and other religious art works.
The nearby Palazzo Trigona, house of the wealthy family who commissioned the church.
The Church of Fundrò, known also as St. Roch, with a carved tufa portal.
The nearby Palazzo di Città, characterized by a fresco ceiling by Salvatore Martorana.
The massive Aragonese Castle. It is square in shape, with square towers.
Outside the city is the ancient church of the Priorato di Sant'Andrea, founded by Count Simon of Butera, a nephew of Roger I of Sicily. It has important medieval frescoes.
Culture
Piazza Armerina holds an annual Palio dei Normanni, a re-enactment in costume of the entrance of the Norman Count Roger I to the city. It takes place on 12–14 August.
Language
Piazza Armerina is one of the so-called "Lombard" communes of Sicily, as its dialect differs 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 with colonists coming from northern Italy, especially from Monferrato and Piacenza.
