| Comune di Piazza Armerina | |
|---|---|
 Municipal coat of arms |
|
| Country |  Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Province | Enna (EN) |
| Mayor | Maurizio Prestifilippo (since June 27, 2004) |
| Elevation | 697 m (2,287 ft) |
| Area | 302 km² (117 sq mi) |
| Population (as of 2001) | |
| - Total | 21,040 |
| - Density | 70/km² (181/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1 |
| Coordinates | |
| Gentilic | Piazzesi |
| Dialing code | 0935 |
| Postal code | 94015 |
| Frazioni | Floristella, Grottacalda, Polleri, Santa Croce, Ileano, Azzolina, Farrugio, Serrafina |
| Patron | Santa Maria della Vittoria |
| - Day | August 15 |
| Website: Comune di Piazza Armerina | |
Piazza Armerina (Sicilian: Ciazza) is an Italian comune in the province of Enna of the autonomous island region of Sicily. In Italy, the comune, (plural comuni) is the basic Administrative division of both provinces and regions and may be properly approximated in Enna ( Provincia di Enna; Sicilian: Pruvincia di Enna) is a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy.
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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 Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. The city was flourishing also during Roman times, as showed by the notable examples of the patrician Villa Romana del Casale. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Villa Romana del Casale is a Roman villa located about 5km outside the town of Piazza Armerina, Sicily.
Main sights
The town is mainly famous for its Roman mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale. Villa Romana del Casale is a Roman villa located about 5km outside the town of Piazza Armerina, Sicily.
The medieval appearance of the city is manifest in some of its houses, which show Norman or Gothic architecture. For other buildings in Normandy see Architecture of Normandy. See also Gothic art Gothic architecture is a style of Architecture which flourished during the high and late medieval period. 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. Roger I (1031 &ndash June 22, 1101) called Bosso and the Great Count, was the Norman Count of Sicily from 1071 to 1101 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, characterized by a fresco ceiling.
- The church of San Giovanni Evangelista (14th century) has an entirely frescoed interior by Guglielmo Borremans and assistants. Guglielmo Borremans ( Antwerp, 1672 - Palermo, 1724) was a painter born in Antwerp, mainly active in Italy, especially
- 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 most famous Palio dei Normanni, a re-enactment in costume of the entrance of Count Roger I in the city. It takes place on 14-August 15. Events 1183 - Taira no Munemori and the Taira clan take the young Emperor Antoku and the three sacred treasures Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed
Language
Piazza Armerina is one of the so-called "Lombardic" 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 (according to other scholars, during the slightly later age of Frederick II) with colonists coming from "Lombard" regions of northern Italy, especially from Monferrato and Piacenza. William I ( 1131 - May 7 1166) called the Bad or the Wicked, was the second King of Sicily, ruling from his father's death William II (French language Guillaume II, 1155 &ndash November 11 1189 Palermo) called the Good, was king of Sicily Frederick II ( December 26, 1194 &ndash December 13, 1250) of the Hohenstaufen dynasty was a Pretender to the title Lombardy (Lombardia Latin: Langobardia, Western Lombard: Lumbardìa, Eastern Lombard: Lombardia) is one of the Montferrat (in Piemontèis, Monfrà; in Italian, Monferrato) is part of the region of Piedmont in Northern Italy. Piacenza ( Placentia in Latin and old-fashioned English, Piasëinsa in the local dialect of Emiliano-Romagnolo) is a
References
- Sicily and Its Islands, Ugo La Rosa Editore, 1993.
External links
- Villa Romana del Casale Web Site
- Piazza Armerina official site
- Villa Romana del Casale 3D Tour
- Piazza Armerina
References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone
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