Interest in the inside of Sicily is significantly weaker than the coast, and this has its objective reasons. But while planning a tour of the island, I came across a panoramic photo of a densely built-up hill, the top of which was dominated by a huge cathedral with a blue-green dome… That’s how I discovered Piazza Armerina and I just knew it had to be visited! It was also mandatory to combine it with the nearby Roman villa with the best-preserved mosaics from that period – Villa Romana del Casale!
Where is located, how to get there and where to stay
Located in the heart of Sicily, Piazza Armerina is around 95 km from Catania and 160 km from Palermo. Nearby is the city of Enna (30 km), which is the capital of the province of the same name. The most convenient way would be to travel by car, but if you don’t have one, there are regular buses from Catania that take about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
See car rental options in Sicily
Traveling by car is quick and easy, with free parking available near the center at Parcheggio Libero per Centro Storico. Or you can do like us and stay in Piazza Armerina, reserving an overnight stay with a parking space. We stayed at B&B Villa Angela, located a short walking distance to the main attractions. Unfortunately, it’s no longer operational and you cannot stay there, but you can check out the other offers in the city.
And before we embarked on exploring Piazza Armerina, we stopped briefly at the parking lot around the city stadium to see the view that made me add it to our Sicilian plan – HERE.
See more places to stay in Piazza Armerina
Booking.comMore about Piazza Armerina
The first records of its existence date back to the 11th century, when the Normans founded a settlement on Roman remains. Its name, derived from the Latin word “Palatium” (palace), is also associated with this Roman imprint. Under the rule of the Swabians, Piazza Armerina was one of the main cities in Sicily and became the seat of important military orders.
To the central square
Its streets are mainly marked by Baroque facades and Norman architecture with Gothic elements. To reach the heart of the old town, we take via Garibaldi, with the city theater of the same name (Teatro Garibaldi) at its very beginning, and opposite it is the small church with an impressive bell tower – Parrocchia Santo Stefano. A short walk takes us to the modest central square Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi. Apart from the cars parked around it, you can also find some impressive buildings there, such as the Palazzo di Citta (Town Hall) and the Chiesa di San Rocco. But clearly there are buildings in Piazza Armerina that have seen much better days, and we can easily see this just by passing by the churches of Sant’Ignazio di Layola and Chiesa di Sant’Anna…
To the Cathedral
Certainly the most significant historical site in the city is the Cathedral (Cattedrale di Maria Santissima delle Vittorie)! She was constructed on the highest point in Piazza Armerina in the 17th-18th centuries, on the remains of a significantly destroyed 15th-century temple. All that remains of it is the majestic bell tower, made in the late Catalan Gothic style, which gives it such a distinctive look. And the blue-green dome, which is also the tallest in Sicily, stands out against the sandy yellowish exterior. Most impressive inside is the main altar, made of silver and Sicilian marble and housing the icon of Maria Santissima delle Vittorie, the patron saint of the city.
Dinner time
At the foot of the Cathedral is the Monte district, whose narrow herringbone-shaped streets hide some interesting palaces and churches. Also nearby is the Aragonese Castle (Castello Aragonese) from the late 14th century, which is currently privately owned and not open to visitors. However, in the summer it hosts a medieval reenactment show.
But Piazza Armerina at the end of February is certainly not a particularly attractive place and we didn’t meet any other tourists during our walk… It was already getting dark, and wandering around this remote part of town didn’t seem like a particularly sensible venture, so we headed to the place for dinner – Ristorante Da Nino. It was recommended to us when we accommodated and given its proximity to our villa, we decided to visit it. Inside, the restaurant is very cozy and decorated with interesting objects, and the menu is full of regional suggestions. This also applies to the pizzas, as we tried some unusual combinations inspired by local traditions.
The Roman mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale
Actually, we first visited Villa Romana del Casale and then Piazza Armerina, but I decided to show them to you in reverse order. Actually, we first visited Villa Romana del Casale and then Piazza Armerina, but I decided to show them to you in reverse row. It is located 5 km southwest of the city, and in the summer there are regular buses to get there, but off-season visiting without a car is more difficult. It was built in the 4th century AD on the foundations of an older agricultural villa, and its main purpose is a matter of conjecture. The most argued theory describes it as a hunting lodge and provincial residence of a Roman governor or even Emperor Maximian Herculius.
The most impressive thing about the villa are the mosaics, preserved over the centuries thanks to a landslide in the 7th century, which buried the entire complex until the beginning of the 20th century. Very quickly archaeologists realized that they had discovered a priceless treasure, which is now part of the large UNESCO family. Despite the huge area and the various rooms (about 50 – bathrooms, banquet halls, master bedroom, children’s rooms, guest bedrooms, basilica, etc.), the entire visit lasts about an hour, an hour and a half.
But let’s get back to the main highlight – the mosaics! I’ve visited Roman villas before, so I didn’t expect to see anything radically different here, but I was wrong… So many diverse and intricate mosaics on the floors that it’ll make you dizzy! Some images are related to the function of the rooms, others depict exotic animals, others are influenced by African styles, and still others trace mythological scenes. The realistic craftsmanship, the freshness of the images, and the variety of plots are more than impressive! The most popular are the scenes of “The Great Hunt” and “The Coronation of the Victorious”, the latter causing an unprecedented furor upon its discovering in 1960, due to the scanty clothing of the depicted Roman gymnasts.
For a final
Piazza Armerina is not included in the must-see places in Sicily, but when moving from the northern to the eastern coast, it’s certainly worth stopping by at least Villa Romana del Casale! Around half a day is enough time to spend visiting both places.
