Introduction

This town lies in a region where mountains subside into fertile grown lower fields. The original Piazza Armerina was born when the Saracens established on Colle Armerino, one of the three hills ii sits on in the 900s. It greatly expanded in the 15th century, reason why it is a town of two towns.
The streets form a maze which makes interesting walking.

What to See and Do

Piazza Armerina’s  shopping thoroughfare is Via G Mazzini.
Its historic centre is worth wandering about. The enormous cathedral lies up the hill on Via Cavour. Its 18th century dome is visible from an important distance. The façade was incorporated in the 18th century a bit earlier than the dome. Its interior is decorated mostly in white and blue and houses a reproduction of the Virgin of the Victories. The baronial Palazzo Trigona is crossing the street and the statue of the man who supported the construction of the cathedral is in the piazza.
Via Monte, a thoroughfare of the 13th century, leads you along a colourful part of town with little corridors-cum-streets to move along.
The vestiges of Castello Aragonese, erected in the 14th century, sit on Via Floresta which goes by Palazzo Trigona.
Around Piazza Garibaldi never miss the Palazzo di Città on the outside, as visits are forbidden, and the stunning tufa carved doorways of Chiesa di San Rocco.
To celebrate Count Roger’s feat in taking Piazza Armerina from the Moors in the 11th century, the Palio dei Normanni takes place every year in the middle of August. Parades, jousting and festivities are organized for the celebration.
5 km a way from Piazza Armerina is the Villa Romana Casale, the main one on Sicily, which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage. It may have belonged to the co-emperor Diocletian, Maximianus Herculeus. The size 3535 sq-m and the perfectly kept polychrome mosaics flooring are stunning. The mosaics depict all aspects of Roman life such as love, game. Their naturalism is stunning. Unlike the Byzantine symbolism mosaics were characterized by in those days, the mosaics in this villa represent daily scenes.
The whole villa has four networks of constructions. It had periods of abandonment and was destroyed by the Norman king William the Bad in the 12h century. A landslide left the area underground and even though the excavations started in the 18th century only in the 20th century some parts of it were unearthed. There are still parts of the villa underground such as the slaves quarters and annexes. Unluckily a flood covered the mosaics again in the 90s. A new risk , according to UNESCO, is the roof covering today the mosaics, for the temperature and humidity in the summer will soon spoil them.
The villa has its own car park and a café with toilets. The narrow walkways are difficult to walk when the 2000 tourists a day are all here. Very early or at noon are the best moments to walk around. Unfortunately and unfairly there is no access for the disabled.
The villa features its essential baths sporting mosaics. It also has the central courtyard, the throne rooms and a gymnasium depicting a scene of the Circus Maximum of Rome. Then there is also a large corridor with fabulous scenes of animal hunting and maybe the co-emperor himself, another room with mosaics representing 10 girls in “bikini “ costumes, apartments with scenes of words of Homer and a banquet hall with illustrations of Hercules.
The tourist information office is on Via Cavour on Piazza Garibaldi. As only Italian is spoken, head for Via Umberto I to find maps and English speaking assistance.

Where to Eat and Drink

Da Totò (Via G Mazzini) serves simple meat dishes, pasta dishes, risotto and local wine. It is the traditional trattoria.
On Via del Teatro by the theatre is Del Teatro, an informal restaurant dishing out pizza and pasta that can be served outdoors in the summertime.
Walking up the cathedral on Via Cavour you will find La Tavernetta, a simple yet well liked trattoria which is attractive for its well prepared food.
La Ruota is only 1 km from the villa, famed and good, do not miss it, let alone its well prepared rabbit stewed with tomatoes, olives and capers.
Garibaldi on the street of the same name is a brand new restaurant of laid back atmosphere, and elegance, well decorated with palms. It features a terrace to eat sheltered under canopies. It has innovated on traditional cuisine. Its wine list is all-Italian yet Sicilian labels predominate.
For a drink check out fashionable Club La Belle Aurora on Piazza Castello.

How to Get to/away

BY BUS: to Enna (length: 45 minutes, services. 8 a day from Mon-Sat, only 2 a day on Sat), to Syracuse (length: 2 hours, services: 1 a day), to Catania( length: 1 ½ hours, services: 9 a day from Mon-Sat).